Not-So-Clean Fun: A Profile of Bath Salt Users Among a College Sample in the United States

Abstract

This research examines the characteristics of users of synthetic stimulants marketed as "bath salts." Synthetic stimulants such as MDPV (3,4-Methylenedioxypyrovalerone), Mephedrone (4-Methylmethcathinone), and Methylone (3,4-Methylenedioxymethcathinone) are often contained in products sold at convenience stores and over the Internet in the United States. Despite the recent legal action banning these types of synthetic stimulants, little is known about the characteristics of the users of these substances. This research provides a profile of bath salt users in the United States among an emerging adult population. A self-report survey instrument was administered to 2,349 students at a large university in the southeastern United States. Respondents indicated whether they had used synthetic stimulants and reported demographic characteristics. Results indicated that users of bath salts were more likely to be male, Hispanic or Native American, student athletes, employed, identify as a members of the LGBT community, and users of other substances.

3,4‐Methylenedioxypyrovalerone prevents while methylone enhances methamphetamine‐induced damage to dopamine nerve endings: β‐ketoamphetamine modulation of neurotoxicity by the dopamine transporter

“…) and individuals who abuse these drugs often coabuse other substances along with bath salts (Winstock et al . ; Miller and Stogner ). Therefore, a compelling rationale exists for testing bath salts in combination as well as with other psychostimulants like methamphetamine, amphetamine, and MDMA.…”

“…Most pre-clinical investigations of the neuropharmacological actions of the b-ketoamphetamines have studied the effects of single drugs on the CNS. However, illicit bath salt formulations generally contain mixtures of psychoactive ingredients (Spiller et al 2011) and individuals who abuse these drugs often coabuse other substances along with bath salts (Winstock et al 2011;Miller and Stogner 2014). Therefore, a compelling rationale exists for testing bath salts in combination as well as with other psychostimulants like methamphetamine, amphetamine, and MDMA.…”

“…These agents are abused singly or with other psychoactive drugs like alcohol, cannabis, and 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (Winstock et al . ; Miller and Stogner ). The high abuse potential of these illicit compounds and the clinically significant dangers associated with their intake has resulted in their classification as Schedule I compounds by the US Drug Enforcement Administration.…”

“…Illicit bath salt formulations are not pure and forensic analyses reveal that they contain mixtures of various psychoactive ingredients (Spiller et al 2011). In light of this fact and considering that individuals who abuse bath salts coabuse numerous other substances (Winstock et al 2011;Miller and Stogner 2014), we expanded the study of bketoamphetamine effects on the DA nerve ending by treating mice with combinations of methylone, MDPV, mephedrone, and methamphetamine. The results revealed that any combination of bath salt agents did not lead to neurotoxicity.…”

Quantification of methylone and metabolites in rat and human plasma by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

“…The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) also detected methylone in just over half (51 %) of the reported 518 synthetic cathinone cases from January to June 2013 [1]. A recent study administered a self-reported survey to students at a large university in the Southeastern US and found that 1.1 % of the population surveyed (n = 2,394) used synthetic cathinones at least once in their lifetime [4]. Another study analyzing 34,561 urine samples submitted for designer stimulant testing, between February 2011 and January 2013, reported methylone as the fourth-most detected synthetic cathinone (n = 186), behind only a-pyrrolidinovalerophenone (a-PVP), MDPV, and a-methylaminovalerophenone (pentedrone) [5].…”