Bath Salts

SaltsHistory:
1960s-- MDPV was developed for treatment of chronic fatigue, but caused problems of abuse and dependence.
1969: Boehringer Ingelheim filed a patent application for MDPV.
2005: MDPV first appeared as recreational drug.
2007: First seizure of MDPV as a recreational drug, by customs officials in German state of Saxony.
2008: First seizure of MDPV in the United States.
2009: MDPV became illegal in Denmark.
2010: MDPV made a controlled drug in the UK, Sweden, Germany, Australia and Finland. First reports of the widespread retail marketing of 'bath salts' containing MDPV in the U.S. The US recognizes both Mephedrone (July, 2010) and MDPV (December, 2010) "a drug and chemical of concern".
2011: MDPV sale and possession are banned in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington State (as of November 3, 2011), West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming, with legislation being introduced in many other states. The DEA moved to temporarily ban MDPV, Mephedrone and Methylone on October 21, 2011
2012: Permanent U.S. ban is imminent on few, select chemicals. In 2012 the Congress passed the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act—Synthetic Drugs which will list MDPV and Mephedrone, but not Methylone.

Facts/Terminology:
"Bath Salts" are man made products of naturally occurring drugs, created and made popular by "armchair chemists" encouraged by profit potential and whose business insight is much more developed than their chemistry abilities.
MDPV is a legal stimulant who's chemical name is Methylenedioxypyrovalerone, the active ingredient in "Bath Salts". Mephedrone, is a synthetic drug of the amphetamine class.
Although the drug is not related to actual bath salts, it’s sometimes sold under the label. It is made from various amphetamine-like chemicals, and can be inhaled, swallowed or injected.
The drug is also sold under other product labels such as: jewelry cleaner, iPod cleaners, insect repellent, iPod screen cleaners, pump-it-up powder, etc.

Slang Names:
Red Dove, Blue Silk, Zoom, Bloom, Cloud Nine, Ocean Snow, Lunar Wave, Vanilla Sky, Hurricane Charlie, Ivory Wave, White Lightning, Scarface, Purple Wave, Blizzard, Star Dust, Lovey-Dovey, Snow Leopard, Aura.

Short Term Effects:
-Rapid heart beat, Sweating, Anxiety, Hypertension, Mild Stimulation, Aggression, Insomnia, Increased body temp, chills, sweating, Agitation, Breathing difficulty, Confusion , Dizziness, Headache, Pupil dilation, Nosebleeds, Increased alertness/awareness.

Long Term Effects:
Fits and delusions, Hallucinations, Kidney pain, Lack of appetite, Liver failure, Loss of bowel control, Muscle spasms, Muscle tenseness, Vasoconstriction (narrowing of blood cells), Nausea. Stomach cramps, Digestive problems, Psychotic delusion, Renal failure, Rhabdomyolysis (release of muscle fiber contents [myoglobin]—could lead to kidney problems), Severe paranoia, Suicidal thoughts, Tachycardia (rapid heartbeat), Tinnitus.

Laws and Enforcement:
“U.S. laws prohibit the sale or possession of all substances that mimic illegal drugs, but only if federal prosecutors can show that they are intended for human use. People who make bath salts and similar drugs work around this by printing ‘not for human consumption’ on virtually every packet.” (CNN 2011)”

Economics:
Scientists that are just starting out , make strong bath salts and sell them at $15 a package.
The formulation varies, and its effects are not fully understood, though research suggests it is highly addictive. In 2010, poison-control centers reported receiving 304 phone calls related to bath salts; in 2011 the number of calls soared to 6,138.

Bibliographies: * Austin. "Many Synthetic Drugs Still Legal after "bath Salts" Ban." CBSNews. CBS Interactive, 4 Aug. 2012. Web. 03 Nov. 2012. <http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57479901/many-synthetic-drugs-still-legal-after-bath-salts-ban/>. * "Bath Salts May Be as Addictive as Cocaine, Study Suggest" Live Science. Bryner, Jeanna. October 30, 2012. <http://www.livescience.com/21825-bath-salts-addictive-cocaine.html>

" 'Bath Salts' -Emerging and Dangerous Products" NIDA. Volkow, Nora D. October 30, 2012. <http://www.drugabuse.gov/about-nida/directors-page/messages-director/2011/02/bath-salts-emerging-dangerous-products>

"Bath Salts" Drug Guide. October 30, 2012. <http://www.drugfree.org/drug-guide/bath-salts>

"Bath Salts" Above the Influence. October 30, 2012. <http://abovetheinfluence.com/facts/drugsbathsalts>

"Synthetic Drug Known as Bath Salts" Poison Help. October 30, 2012. http://www.poisoncentertampa.org/drug-abuse.aspx#bath-salts * "The Straight Dope on What Bath Salts Do to Your Brain And Why They're Dangerous" Forbes. DiSalvo, David. October 30, 2012. http://www.forbes.com/sites/daviddisalvo/2012/06/05/the-straight-dope-on-what-bath-salts-do-to-your-brain-and-why-theyre-dangerous/ * Austin. "The Synthetic Scare." The Economist. The Economist Newspaper, 04 Aug. 2012. Web. 03 Nov. 2012. <http://www.economist.com/node/21559978>. * Duncan, Glenn. "HDAP - Comprehensive Drug Information on "Bath Salts" (MDPV, Mephedrone)." HDAP - Comprehensive Drug Information on "Bath Salts" (MDPV, Mephedrone). Hunterdon Drug Awareness Program, 29 June 2012. Web. 03 Nov. 2012. http://www.hdap.org/mdpv.html