“We are not talking about the typical bath salts that you put in water and bath in,” says Claudia Edwards, Public Health Director for the Broome County Health Department. “The products we are referring to are narcotics being marketed as bath salts. They are posing a real health and safety threat to our teen and young adult population. Across the nation use of these products has been linked to calls to poison control centers, hospitalizations, suicides and deaths.”

 

“Bath salts” are toxic synthetic-drug products that are being used as recreational designer drugs. These drugs are dangerous. Users have been known ingest the drug by snorting, injection, and smoking.

 

The compounds in bath salts, mephedrone and methylenedioxypyrovalerone, or MDPV, are related structurally to Cathinone, a controlled substance that stimulates the body’s central nervous system. The stimulants can cause increased heart rate, chest pains, dizziness, delusions, panic attacks, nose bleeds and nausea. 

 

These substances are being sold on-line, in convenience stores, gas stations, and head shops. They are sold in small packets and are often white, tan, or brown colored.

 

“Fortunately we did not find any of these products being sold at the stores we visited,” said Christopher Coddington, Director of Environmental Health Services for the Broome County Health Department. “Many of the store managers and owners were not aware that these products are being marketed and welcomed the information that we were able to provide them about the product and the ban.   

 

The salts are being sold under names like White Lightening, Snow Leopard, Pure Ivory, Blue Silk, and Vanilla Sky.

 

For more information on bath salts visit the Broome County Health Department website at www.gobroomecounty.com/hd. To report the sale of these products in Broome County residents can contact the Broome County Health Department at 607.778.2887.