Which drug is classified as a cathinone and is often referred to as bath salts?

Mephedrone is classified as a cathinone, which refers to a group of synthetic drugs that are chemically similar to khat, a plant containing naturally occurring substances that stimulate the central nervous system. Cathinones, including mephedrone, are known for their stimulant and entactogenic effects, often leading to increased energy, euphoria, and sociability. Mephedrone gained notoriety as "bath salts" in popular culture, largely due to its illicit use and the way it was marketed as a legal high in some regions before regulations were tightened.

Its structure and action as a cathinone categorize it distinctly from the other substances listed. MDMA, while a popular psychoactive drug, is an amphetamine derivative and does not fall under the cathinone classification. Cocaine, a powerful stimulant derived from coca leaves, has a different pharmacological profile as well. Ketamine, primarily known for its anesthetic properties, is categorized as a dissociative anesthetic, making it significantly different from stimulants in both mechanism and effects. Thus, mephedrone stands out as the drug most accurately fitting the description of a cathinone commonly associated with the term "bath salts."