Bath salt- not just for the bath tub anymore |
I came across a headline today on bath salts as the cause of necrotizing fasciitis, known in the vernacular as the flesh eating bacteria. Necrotizing fasciitis is a life threatening infection of the skin and soft tissue resulting in septic shock and even death. In the journal, Orthopedics, a case of necrotizing fasciiitis following 'bath salts' injection into an arm is reported.
Working in an urban hospital and in an clinic, I pride myself in having learned much of the drug lingo from my patients during the course of our medical encounters. 'Bath salts' as a street drug was new to me. A quick cross reference of 'Bath Salt' in the Urban Dictionary proved enlightening. Bath salt is a new, designer drug. It is a synthetic, stimulant powder product that contains amphetamine-like chemicals, including mephedrone. These chemicals produce excitement, and have side effects such as rebound depression, paranoia and psychosis. Brand names include Blizzard, Blue Silk, Charge+, Ivory Snow, Ivory Wave, Ocean Burst, Pure Ivory, Purple Wave, Snow Leopard, Stardust, Vanilla Sky, White Dove, White Knight and White Lightning.
Here is an informative Q+A in WebMD on bath salts.
You learn something everyday in this line of work.