“Bath Salts” and “Herbal Incense”: Truly Not for Human Consumption

Bath salts and herbal incense—synthetic legal intoxicating drugs (so-called SLIDs)—have become the focus of grim national headlines lately. According to James Knoll, MD, forensic psychiatrist and Editor in Chief of Psychiatric Times, these substances have potentially serious adverse effects—including acute psychosis, delirium, violent behavior, seizures, and cardiovascular emergencies. SLIDs are sold at head shops and over the internet with deceptive labels such as “not for human consumption” that suggest a harmless recreational substance.

In the next few minutes, Dr Knoll, offers a brief update on SLIDs – what they are, what they do—and how to treat their adverse effects.

James L. Knoll IV, MD, is Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the SUNY Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse, where he is Director of Forensic Psychiatry, and Director of the Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship at Central New York Psychiatric Center. He is also Editor in Chief of Psychiatric Times.

For more detailed information on this topic, see Dr Knoll's article, “Bath Salts” and “Herbal Incense”: Legal Highs, Medical Lows.