title: Comprehensive analysis of "bath salts" purchased from California stores and the internet.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the contents of "bath salt" products purchased from California stores and the Internet qualitatively and quantitatively in a comprehensive manner.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample of "bath salt" products were purchased in person by multiple authors at retail stores in six California cities and over the Internet (U.S. sites only), between August 11, 2011 and December 15, 2011. Liquid chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry was utilized to identify and quantify all substances in the purchased products.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-five "bath salt" products were purchased and analyzed. Prices ranged from $9.95 to 49.99 (U.S. dollars). Most products had a warning against use. The majority (32/35, 91%) had one (n = 15) or multiple cathinones (n = 17) present. Fourteen different cathinones were identified, 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) being the most common. Multiple drugs found including cathinones (buphedrone, ethcathinone, ethylone, MDPBP, and PBP), other designer amines (ethylamphetamine, fluoramphetamine, and 5-IAI), and the antihistamine doxylamine had not been previously identified in U.S. "bath salt" products. Quantification revealed high stimulant content and in some cases dramatic differences in either total cathinone or synthetic stimulant content between products with the same declared weight and even between identically named and outwardly appearing products.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Comprehensive analysis of "bath salts" purchased from California stores and the Internet revealed the products to consistently contain cathinones, alone, or in different combinations, sometimes in high quantity. Multiple cathinones and other drugs found had not been previously identified in U.S. "bath salt" products. High total stimulant content in some products and variable qualitative and quantitative composition amongst products were demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Toxicology, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California San Diego Health System , San Diego, CA , USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schneir
authors.forename: B T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Ly
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Casagrande
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Darracq
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Offerman
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thornton
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Smollin
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vohra
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rangun
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tomaszewski
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Gerona
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D052117:Benzodioxoles / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D002140:California; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D015198:Designer Drugs / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000191:economics / Q000633:toxicity; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004348:Drug Labeling; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000191:economics / Q000633:toxicity; D020407:Internet; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000191:economics / Q000633:toxicity; D011759:Pyrrolidines / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; D000094982:Synthetic Cathinone
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D052117:Benzodioxoles; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D015198:Designer Drugs; D004338:Drug Combinations; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D011759:Pyrrolidines; C023665:cathinone; D000094982:Synthetic Cathinone
keywords: Cathinones; Quantification; TOF; “bath salts”