Over 20,000 Emergency Department Visits Related to Bath Salts

As reported by SAMHSA it is estimated that 22,904 visits to hospital emergency departments in 2011 were linked to “bath salts.”  Bath salts are a combination of synthetic cathinones which are man-made chemicals related to amphetamines.  Synthetic cathinone products often consist of methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), mephedrone, and methylone.

According to the report 67% of these ER visits also involved the use of another drug.  There were nearly 2.5 million emergency department visits involving drug misuse or abuse in 2011.

For more information and details on the report please visit http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/1309160554.aspx