“Bath Salts” – YIKES!

From the Makes Mamas Really Really Mad file … there’s a new player in the never ending stream of products designed to cash in on trashing our teens. This one is called “bath salts”, but it’s really a dangerous stimulant that can produce a euphoria similar to that of cocaine or meth — and it’s perfectly legal (as of now, anyway).

In spite of the harmless-sounding name, this stuff has nothing to do with relaxing in the tub. It contains mephedrone, or MDPV, a synthetic amphetamine that’s extremely dangerous. Sold under names like Zoom, Aura, and Ivory Wave it’s flying off the shelves at a convenience store near you.

What does it do besides make you high? As a central nervous system stimulant, it will increase your blood pressure, increase your heart rate, and may cause chest pain, heart attack or stroke. Those are just the physical symptoms. Psychological symptoms include delusions, paranoia and psychosis.  And, of course, it’s highly addictive.

The DEA has already labeled bath salts a “drug of concern”, and there’s legislation pending to make it a controlled substance, but as of now can your 14-year-old walk into your local AM/PM and pick up a few packets of this garbage? You betcha!

So what can you do to protect your kids from this potentially life-threatening poison? TALK! Ask yours if he’s ever heard of bath salts, and if so what does he know? Ask lots of open-ended questions designed to maximize conversation. Show him evidence of the dangers. Daughter tells me she’s heard of it, but doesn’t know anyone who’s ever tried it (“OMG Mooooooooom”). Believe me, I’ll keep asking.