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In early 2011, a Michigan poison control center received reports of several patients injecting, inhaling, or ingesting “bath salts” as recreational drugs. Purchased at a local store, the “bath salts,” which have no legitimate use for bathing, contained the stimulant compounds 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) or 4-methylmethcathinone (mephedrone). Subsequent statewide investigation identified 35 patients (age range, 22–50) who presented to emergency departments with “bath salt” intoxication during 5 months.
Nearly half of patients had histories of psychiatric illness, and 69% had self-reported histories of drug abuse. Ninety-one percent presented with neurological symptoms (e.g., mydriasis, motor automatisms), 77% exhibited cardiovascula…