- Bath Salts
- Abstract
This study is set out to investigate ‘bath salts’; a designer drug common in the northern part of America especially Canada and the United States. The drug has two major components that show similar characteristics to cocaine and meth (methamphetamine), and it is believed to contain methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) as its main ingredient. It is notorious in these countries causing alarm. Therefore, this study will assess its effects on the human body, addictiveness, legality, government response, how it is detected, and why it is masked under the name ‘bath salts’.
- Research Questions
To obtain all required research data, an appropriateconceptual framework would aid inquiry into the following key study questions.
- What do people experience when they take Bath Salts?
- What are the main components found in the drug?
- How are Bath Salts used by people?
- Are Bath Salts addictive or habitual forming? (In Schletty, 2013)
- What is the position of country governments regarding Bath Salts usage? Are these drugs legal?
- Introduction
‘Bath salt’ is a concealed name for a family of manmade drugs that are made by mixing synthetic chemicals (Parks, 2014). The name used has no authentic origin but it is used to evade or avoid detection by government authorities hence it disguises real bath salts used in households (“What are ‘bath salts’? A look at Canada’s newest illegal drug – Canada – CBC News,” n.d.). Basically, it is a crystalline powder either brown or white and sold in plastic packages.Common street names used for it are ‘Vanilla Sky’, ‘Ivory Wave’, and ‘Cloud Nine’ among many others. Bath Salt can be taken orally, snorted or injected.
Bath Salt through its chemical compounds, stimulates the body to cause various effects. Users often show psychiatric symptoms such as hallucinations and always get paranoid. Either, they experience cardiac symptoms such as high blood pressure and high desire for sex, racing heart and pains on the chest area (McClean, Anspikian, &Tsuang, 2012). Furthermore, users often experience suicidal thinking which may be there after stimulatory effects of the substance have disappeared or worn off (Scott, 2015). To counter effects of these substance authorities in affected areas have banned most of the chemicals used to prepare them, but still, illicit producers find a way to use other chemicals that are still legal.
The study will be limited to the effects brought about by usage of Bath Salts, major chemicals used to produce the substance and policies to curb its usage.
- Research design
A grounded theory research design will be applied to get in-depth understanding of the main chemicals used to produce the substance and its various effects on its users. For the purposes of data collection interviews and questionnaires will administered to a sample of about 10 randomly selected medics and chemical analysts in ***. The interviews will be conducted mainly with chemical and analyst medics, all be directed towards answering the research questions. However, an appropriate sampling technique, purposive in nature should be used to come up with an appropriate sample size as may be required. Peer journals or articles and books will provide relevant theoretical information for the study. The analyzed data can be presented using tables, graphs, and charts.
- Conclusion
Bath Salt abuse is becoming common in the streets. The substance has far detrimental effects to the body than even common narcotics that may even lead to death (McClean, Anspikian, &Tsuang, 2012). Drug users, therefore, should think twice about using this synthetic drug, and also the authorities ought to be forefront to curb its usage.
- References
‘Bath salts’ in Toronto – News – CBC Player [Video file]. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cbc.ca/player/Embedded-Only/News/Canada/Toronto/ID/2250689732/
Cambridge Educational (Firm), Films for the Humanities & Sciences (Firm), & Films Media Group. (2014). Bath Salts and Other Synthetic Drugs: Think About It. New York, N.Y: Films Media Group.
Drug Facts: Synthetic Cathinones (? Bath Salts?) | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/synthetic-cathinones-bath-salts
Films Media Group. (2014). Synthetic street drug camouflaged as bath salts has dangerous, bizarre effects.
In Schletty, P. (2013). Get smart about synthetic drugs.
McClean, J. M., Anspikian, A., &Tsuang, J. W. (2012). Bath Salt Use: A Case Report and Review of the Literature. Journal of Dual Diagnosis. doi:10.1080/15504263.2012.697447
Nelson, D., & Hamline University, (2014). Raman spectroscopy of methamphetamines and designer drugs known as “bath salts”.
Parks, P. J. (2014). Bath salts and other synthetic drugs.
Scott, C. (2015). New Drugs: Bath Salts, Spice, Salvia, & Designer Drugs. Broomall, PA: Mason Crest.