"Bath Salt" Use and Beliefs about Use among Electronic Dance Music Attendees.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs 2018 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2018.1517229 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 933 |
| Population | Adults aged 18-40 entering electronic dance music parties in New York City in 2017 |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Keywords | Dance music New psychoactive substances Synthetic cathinones |
| Key findings | An estimated 3.5% of EDM attendees reported knowingly using "bath salts." Male sex, weekly income under $500, and college degree were associated with higher use, while believing "bath salts" have turned users into cannibals was associated with lower use. Many held inaccurate beliefs, including that "bath salts" are more harmful than MDMA (46.7%) or are sometimes found in Molly (30.0%). |
Abstract
Use of synthetic cathinones ("bath salts") has been associated with tens of thousands of emergency department visits. Few surveys, however, query use. Research on "bath salt" use is needed, especially in high-risk populations, to inform prevention and harm reduction efforts. A total of 933 adults (ages 18-40) were surveyed entering electronic dance music (EDM) parties in New York City in 2017. Lifetime use of 22 different synthetic cathinones was queried, and agreement with four statements about "bath salts" was also assessed. Prevalence and correlates of self-reported "bath salt" use was examined as well as correlates of beliefs about "bath salts." An estimated 3.5% of EDM attendees have knowingly used "bath salts." Almost half (46.7%) believe "bath salts" are more harmful than MDMA, 30.1% believe "bath salts" have turned users into cannibals, 30.0% believe "bath salts" are sometimes found in Molly, and 14.9% believe they might have unknowingly used "bath salts." Males, those earning <$500 per week, and those with a college degree were at higher risk for use. Believing "bath salts" have turned users into cannibals, however, was protective against use. Findings suggest the need for more accurate information (e.g., regarding drug effects) on this large and heterogeneous group of compounds.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on MDMA, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recreational MDMA use in Sydney: a profile of ‘Ecstasy’ users and their experiences with the drug Recreational Ecstasy users recruited via snowball peer network | 1992 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 100 |
| Reducedin vivobinding to the serotonin transporter in the cerebral cortex of MDMA (‘ecstasy’) users Male regular ecstasy users and well-matched controls | 1999 | Cross-sectional association study | n = 20 |
| Patterns of simultaneous polysubstance use in drug using university students Drug-using university students | 2006 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 149 |
| Patterns of recreational drug use at dance events in Edinburgh, Scotland Drug users at dance events in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, aged 16-47, 80% between 18 and... | 2001 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 122 |
| Acute, sub‐acute and long‐term subjective consequences of ‘ecstasy’ (MDMA) consumption in 430 regular users Regular MDMA users | 2003 | Cross-sectional study | n = 466 |
Citations in the library
Cites 8
- Self-reported use of novel psychoactive substances among attendees of electronic dance music venues. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse November 1, 2016
- The Reinforcing and Rewarding Effects of Methylone, a Synthetic Cathinone Commonly Found in “Bath Salts” Journal of Addiction Research & Therapy December 1, 2012
- How MDMA's Pharmacology and Pharmacokinetics Drive Desired Effects and Harms The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology January 16, 2014
- Correlates of new psychoactive substance use among a self-selected sample of nightclub attendees in the United States. American Journal on Addictions August 1, 2016
- Pill testing or drug checking in Australia: Acceptability of service design features. Drug and Alcohol Review February 2018
and 3 more in the library