Not-So-Clean Fun: A Profile of Bath Salt Users Among a College Sample in the United States

• Published in: Journal of psychoactive drugs Vol. 46; no. 2; pp. 147 - 153
• Main Authors: Miller, Bryan Lee, Stogner, John M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Routledge 01.04.2014; Haight Ashbury Publications
• Subjects: 4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone; Adolescent; Adult; Athletes; Athletes - psychology; bath salts; Central Nervous System Stimulants - chemical synthesis; Convenience stores; designer drugs; Drug use; Electronic commerce; Employment - psychology; Female; Health Behavior; Health Surveys; Hispanic Americans - psychology; Homosexuality - psychology; Humans; Indians, North American - psychology; Male; mephedrone; prevalence; Stimulants; Street Drugs - chemical synthesis; Students - psychology; Substance-Related Disorders - epidemiology; Substance-Related Disorders - ethnology; Substance-Related Disorders - psychology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Synthetic products; Transgender Persons - psychology; United States - epidemiology; University students; Young Adult; United States; Southeastern states; United States > US; prevalence; bath salts; 3; mephedrone; designer drugs; 4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone
• ISSN: 0279-1072; 2159-9777
• DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2013.876520

This research examines the characteristics of users of synthetic stimulants marketed as "bath salts." Synthetic stimulants such as MDPV (3,4-Methylenedioxypyrovalerone), Mephedrone (4-Methylmethcathinone), and Methylone (3,4-Methylenedioxymethcathinone) are often contained in products sold at convenience stores and over the Internet in the United States. Despite the recent legal action banning these types of synthetic stimulants, little is known about the characteristics of the users of these substances. This research provides a profile of bath salt users in the United States among an emerging adult population. A self-report survey instrument was administered to 2,349 students at a large university in the southeastern United States. Respondents indicated whether they had used synthetic stimulants and reported demographic characteristics. Results indicated that users of bath salts were more likely to be male, Hispanic or Native American, student athletes, employed, identify as a members of the LGBT community, and users of other substances.