Continuing with the synthetic/designer drug theme. Last time we were discussing synthetic marijuana. Another old drug making a resurgence under the designer drug category is mephedrone.This amphetamine-like drug has been purportedly the active substance in "bath salts". It has also been sold as "plant food" - still trying to figure that one out.
Sold in head shops under the name Bliss or Cloud 9 - they have been reported to be available in Baltimore, MD recently. They can also be bought over the internet. Crushed, snorted or ingested, the effect is similiar to cocaine with a largely sympathomimetic toxidrome. Mephedrone has been labeled an entactogen with users behaving similiar to an MDMA ingestion. A Baltimore news station incorrectly called it "synthetic cocaine" - though the effect may be similiar, completely different molecular structure.
Treatment is cooling, check lytes (especially sodium), check for rhabdomyolysis and sedation with benzodiazepines. Below is one link from a Denver News Station. Attached is a picture of a bath salt product.
The latest and greatest on the street - synthetic marijuana and bath salts!
