Bath salts are sold over the Internet and in some stores.
MARQUETTE -- After an increase in poisonous bath salt cases in Marquette County, the Health Department has issued an emergency order to take these products off shelves.
So what makes this powder so dangerous? We spoke with an addiction specialist, who explained the short-term side effects experienced by someone who abuses these toxic bath salts.
Paranoia, anxiety, and delusions are just some of what doctors are seeing in their patients.
In just the last month, some doctors have seen as many as several dozen patients suffering from an addiction to these salts.
"It is really highly addictive because of the euphoric effect that it creates when people either snort it or inject it, and they go start to chase the high, and they want more and more of the drug, and that's really when we start to see some of the complications," says addiction specialist Dr. John Lehtinen.
There has been one reported death in the U.P. that may be directly linked to the abuse of bath salts.
Long-term effects aren't as well known yet because the problem is so recent.