WHAT WE TREAT
At Paracelsus Recovery, we understand how overwhelming it can feel to face an addiction to bath salts. You don’t have to go through this alone; we’re here to help. Our holistic and pragmatic treatment programmes are designed to support you through a safe detox from bath salts, address each underlying cause of the addiction, and restore your health.
Cathinones are more commonly referred to as bath salts. This term is used to describe a dangerous synthetic narcotic with stimulant-like effects, not the scented bath salts in the bathroom. Bath salts get their name from their appearance: white or brown crystalline rocks or powder. Rather than being one specific drug, bath salts refer to a variety of substances that are chemically similar. As well as being stimulants, bath salts are classed as “new psychoactive substances” (NPS), of which little is known about. Bath salts were popular among teens and in the club scene in the early 2010s but there has since been a steady decline in use as people became more and more aware of the negative consequences.
The chemical makeup of bath salts is usually unknown, meaning that little research has been done into the physical and mental effects. Depending on the combination of chemicals in bath salts, the effects can be similar to cocaine, meth or amphetamines. However, they are thought to be more than 10 times more powerful than cocaine. Taking bath salts can result in feelings of euphoria and intoxication as well as increased sociability, increased sex drive and hallucinations. Such effects last, on average, 3 to 4 hours.
Due to the response by the brain’s dopamine reward system, which is responsible for the development of addiction over time, bath salts have the potential to be addictive. This may lead to severe physical and psychological dependence as well as many psychological issues. If you take the drug over an extended period, the brain will adapt, and the individual will need higher doses to get the same effect. This effect is known as tolerance.
Among the dangerous side effects of bath salts are paranoia, suicidal tendencies, insomnia and high blood pressure. The risk of overdose and even death can be high with bath salts, as it is impossible to know exactly what each batch contains.
If you have developed a bath salts addiction, you can overcome it. However, it can be challenging to detox from bath salts without professional, structured support. Often, the only way to do this is to undergo a medical detox to manage the physical withdrawal symptoms and to work with mental health experts to manage the psychological withdrawal.
Through our combination of medical, psychological and personal care, we are proud to be the only clinic in the world that addresses co-occurring conditions and every possible root-cause of bath salts addiction. In doing so, we can help you recover in a matter of weeks, rather than years or months.
bespoke treatment
How we treat bath salts addiction
We can’t tell you exactly what your four-week stay will involve because our patients have no pre-defined treatment path. Everyone who comes to stay at Paracelsus Recovery receives a bespoke treatment plan moulded to their needs. From the withdrawal process to intensive therapy, each element is curated for them. However, it is important to emphasise that we do not adopt a specific treatment model. Instead, we advocate for a completely pragmatic approach to addiction; whatever works best for you to achieve your goals.
Each of your days with us will be thoughtfully structured to include a variety of carefully tailored therapeutic elements therapies. These therapies are designed to complement one another, addressing not only the physical aspects of addiction but also the emotional and psychological factors involved. See below for more details.
Our approach considers the whole person: mind, body and soul
We understand that everyone’s journey is different, which is why we never take a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. Instead, we carefully tailor each programme to meet your unique needs. While we prioritise the latest treatment methods and holistic care, it’s your individual circumstances that ultimately shape how we work with you.
As part of your recovery from bath salts addiction, we provide a carefully supervised withdrawal process, incorporating medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and IV therapy to alleviate withdrawal symptoms. A crucial element of our approach is thorough testing, which allows us to uncover the underlying factors contributing to your dependency. With this insight, we design a personalised treatment plan that targets the root causes of your addiction and supports your lasting recovery. Your bespoke programme will include a broad range of therapies, including biofeedback, nutritional therapy, Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), sleep therapies, trauma-focused therapy, acupuncture, equine therapy, and art therapy.
Alongside addressing the root causes of your addiction, we also focus on any wider effects, such as neurological or physical damage caused by bath salts use. Our holistic approach blends intensive psychotherapy, biochemical restoration, and complementary therapies, all sharing the aim of to reducing stress, enhancing healing, and supporting a sustainable path to recovery.
15+ team members, all dedicated to your health and well-being
We are the only residential drug treatment centre in the world to provide a minimum of 15 dedicated professionals to each client.
Our team is made up of world-renowned doctors, therapists, and addiction specialists, including a Nobel Prize-winning board member. With an unparalleled team to client ratio of 15:1, our team provides around-the-clock support to manage your withdrawal and get you on the road to recovery. A live-in therapist will also be available for 24/7 emotional support. No matter the unique blend of treatments you receive, they will be delivered with the Swiss medical excellence we are known for.
Comprehensive programmes as unique as you are
At Paracelsus Recovery, we curate a comprehensive and intensive treatment programme that works for you. Driven by our core principles of pragmatism and empathy, we design a treatment programme based on your unique needs. Those needs may be physical and psychological, e.g. if our team identifies nutritional deficiencies or signs of other addictions during the assessment period, your programme would be shaped with these in mind. However, those needs can be practical too, such as when a client needs to work or travel during their stay with us.
We can provide treatment for bath salts addiction and any co-occurring dependencies and mental health conditions at our discrete addiction treatment centre in Zurich.
FURTHER READING
