Results of a new study have shown for the first time that use of the synthetic stimulants collectively known as “bath salts” acts like cocaine in terms of abuse and addiction potential.

Synthetic Stimulants Called ‘Bath Salts’ Act in the Brain Like Cocaine:

Results of a new study led by Malanga offer compelling evidence for the first time that mephedrone, like cocaine, does have potential for abuse and addiction. “The effects of mephedrone on the brain’s reward circuits are comparable to similar doses of cocaine,” he said. “As expected our research shows that mephedrone likely has significant abuse liability.”

A report of the study was published online on June 21, 2012 by the journal Behavioural Brain Research. The report’s first author and MD/PhD student at UNC J. Elliott Robinson points out that mephedrone and other potentially addictive stimulants “inappropriately activate brain reward circuits that are involved in positive reinforcement. These play a role in the drug ‘high’ and compulsive drug taking.”

Researchers did not report on why bath salts cause users to enter a zombie-like state and/or become cannibals, unfortunately.

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Jeff Cormier

Dad, husband, dog lover, law, write at DigitalDeconstruction.com and other online destinations, forever immature. It's the me that I let you know.

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