Bath salts drug comes to Kelowna

KELOWNA – Police say an addictive illegal drug known as "bath salts" has made its way into B.C.

Kelowna RCMP will hold a press conference tomorrow about a recent bust and the presence of this drug in the city and surrounding area.

The drug is so named because it resembles bath salts and is often marketed thus, though the chemical composition is very different. It's categorized with synthesized catheninones and produces effects similar to methamphetamine and cocaine. Actual bath salts are made from magnesium sulphate and used as a relaxant in bath water, but can also be ingested under a doctor's supervision as a stool softener.

The illegal version can be snorted, swallowed, smoked and injected and side effects include headache, nausea and heart palpatations. More serious complications can occur such as hallucinations, panic attacks, paranoia, violent behaviour and heart attack.

Long term use of this addictive drug may result in kidney failure, liver failure, dehydration, and breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue.

LINKS:

The Straight Dope on What Bath Salts Do to Your Brain and Why They're Dangerous – Forbes

The Drug that Never Lets Go – PBS Newshour