UN Report Shows Rampant Global Use of Designer Drugs

UN Gets Involved in Fight Against Bath Salts

I've written on several occasions about "bath salts", or legal designer drugs that are dangerous despite their innocuous sounding name. These drugs are considered psychoactive substances and have been linked to serious reactions that have led to injuries for users and bystanders alike. They are considered so lethal that the United Nations has taken notice in reaction to widespread and rampant use across the globe.

Designer Drugs Dangerous, Easy to Obtain

These designer drugs are sold openly, even on the Internet, and often go by names such as "meow meow", "spice", or "bath salts". The UN recently released a report on the use of the drug, stating that "the international drug control system is foundering, for the first time, under the speed and creativity" under the prolific use of the drug. Furthermore, the report also stated that the types of "bath salts" have increased astronomically since 2009, with 166 types reported in 2009 up to 251 by 2012. Unfortunately, young people tend to think they are getting a safe high when using bath salts but the opposite couldn't be truer.

Dangers of Bath Salts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTYNw_2yOkI

Bath salts are especially dangerous and the U.S. banned them in 2011 after classifying three chemicals used to make the drugs "controlled subtances" (the video above is from two years ago when the drugs were still legal in the U.S.). Bath salts have been linked to incidents of attempted suicide, aggressive violent crime, and other side effects including paranoia, delusions, depression, insomnia, seizures and panic attacks. Furthermore, the drugs' long-term effects are unknown but this does not seem to hinder their use. The UN has its work cut out for it in combating this important and growing problem.