Addiction - MEPHEDRONE - Mephedrone-and-Brain-Damage

Mephedrone and Brain Damage

Researchers at the University of Sydney found that mephedrone, one of the most popular street drugs, can lead to permanent brain damage. Craig Motbey, a PhD candidate in the University’s School of Psychology and lead author of the research, said that the addiction is very high and that young people come to consume large amounts of this drug in short periods of time.It should be noted that this drug is illegal in Europe, Israel, Australia, New Zealand and USA. Known also as meow meow or MCAT, mephedrone is a drug that belongs to the same class as methamphetamine. It is believed that its effects are similar to methamphetamine and ecstasy consumption.

Researchers believe that mephedrone leads to cognitive impairment. Like other drugs, mephedrone gives euphoria, enhances mood and stimulates mental function. Side effects of this drug are poor concentration, teeth grinding, hallucinations, depression, paranoia etc. There have been described anorexia, palpitations, dyspnea, and others symptoms. Of course, as with other drug consumption, mephedrone leads to addiction. Furthermore, researchers believe that addiction is much faster and more powerful.

To see the effects of this drug on memory, the researchers conducted experiments on laboratory animals. After have administered mephedrone injections once a day for 10 days to the mice, the researchers divided mice into two groups. The first group was analyzed within one hour after the last injection and the second group was analyzed at several weeks. It was found that mice injected with mephedrone had significant cognitive impairment. In addition researchers said the injuries are permanent since cognitive function was evaluated after several weeks. Motbey said that although they found what are that the effects of this drug on memory, they cannot figure out what are the mechanisms by which this drug works. He is hopeful that through further studies will help find the explanation of how this drug affects memory.

Analysis the first group of mice has led researchers to discover how this drug works on the brain. It seems that mephedrone increases rapidly serotonin with rapid catabolism of dopamine. This explains the euphoria (serotonin) and addiction (dopamine). It should be noted that although researchers observed these effects only on the animals receiving high doses of mephedrone, this does not mean that this drug is safe in small doses. In addition, Motbey pointed out that the effects of this drug could be cumulative. In other words, low doses could lead to serious brain damage over time.

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Nick

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Anonymous

"I say I'm never going to take it again but when the weekend gets here I can't resist it. It scares me so much because I have got two young children and it is taking over my life."

Anonymous

"I'm really worried now, this is starting to take over my life and i have no idea what its doing to my body due to the lack of research."

Anonymous

"After quitting mephedrone, I can't concentrate on anything... I can't understand anything. I'm completely and utterly useless. I stare at the screen at my job, trying to make some sense of the nonsense in front of me. I end up sobbing in the toilets in sh"

Anonymous

"I have been addicted to pretty much every drug out there. I've been living like this for over 15 years, but I have never became so addicted so quick aw to mephedrone."

Anonymous

"It's within you to stop the use of Mephedrone. Do the right thing."

Anonymous

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"We're saying, 'Just because it's legal doesn't mean it's safe.'"

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drugabuse.gov

"The harms and potential danger with taking drugs such as amphetamines and cocaine are well known, and these substances are related to those drugs. There is no evidence that [mephedrone] is a safer option."

Harry Shapiro, DrugScope

"Many of the deaths involved poly-drug use and high levels of alcohol"

Independent Scientific Committee on Drugs

"You see young kids now, 13, 14 on it, but they think it's all right because it was legal at one point."

Rachel

"We'd have to say that this drug is probably worse in some ways, in terms of the violence, than some of the other drugs like cocaine and heroin"

Consultant Mr Michael McCabe

"There's a real ruthlessness about this that is to exploit children and to get people hooked so that they are then their market for the future."

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Keith

"The back of your nose fills up with snotty gunk and blood, and is scabbed afterwards."

Beth

"The first time I took mephedrone it felt like a cross between good coke and good MDMA. But by the third time the high was much harder to get."

Peter

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Don’t try to go it alone. Whatever treatment approach you choose, having a solid support system is essential. The more positive influ...
Don’t try to go it alone. Whatever treatment approach you choose, having a solid support system is essential. The more positive influences you have in your life, the better your chances for recovery. Recovering from drug addiction isn’t easy, but with people you can turn to for encouragement, guidance, and a listening ear, it’s a little easier.
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Keep triggers and cravings in check
While getting sober from drugs is an important first step, it’s only the beginning of the recovery process. Once sober, the brain nee...
While getting sober from drugs is an important first step, it’s only the beginning of the recovery process. Once sober, the brain needs time to recover and rebuild connections that have changed while addicted. During this time, drug cravings can be intense. You can support your continued sobriety by making a conscious effort to avoid people, places, and situations that trigger the urge to use.
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Learn healthy ways to cope with problems
Even once you’ve recovered from drug addiction, you’ll still have to face the issues that led to your drug problems in the first pl...
Even once you’ve recovered from drug addiction, you’ll still have to face the issues that led to your drug problems in the first place. Did you start using drugs to numb painful emotions, calm yourself down after an argument, unwind after a bad day, or forget about your problems? After you become sober, the negative feelings that you used to dampen with drugs will resurface. For treatment to be successful, and to remain sober in the long term, you’ll need to resolve these underlying issues as well.
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Look for help
There are many groups and organizations available to help you overcome your addiction. Once you have set your mind to beating your addi...
There are many groups and organizations available to help you overcome your addiction. Once you have set your mind to beating your addiction you can seek help from one of the groups to help you accomplish your goal. Groups like Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Overeaters Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous, or Debtors Anonymous are trained to work with you to successfully beat your addiction. They are a mentor, a crutch, and a friend in a time of need.
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Regain Power
Many addictions are undermined because we believe we are powerless to change the situation. This is not true! You do have the power to ...
Many addictions are undermined because we believe we are powerless to change the situation. This is not true! You do have the power to make change. It may be slow and painful. It may result in times where you fall backwards but you have the power to pick yourself up, wipe yourself off, and go forward again. Use your power to take one minute at a time, one hour at a time, and one day at a time. As you move forward use your power to look one week into the future, one month into the future.
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Be aware of overdosing

Compared to other recreational drugs, it is relatively easy to overdose on Mephedrone. This is because it is so moreish, that is once y...

Avoid oral route

The oral route is the most popular because it has the least side effects; however, it can take some time for the effects to be felt so ...

Do Something Physical

As a recovering addict, you can take up a physical routine like joining a gym or a yoga club or just jog with friends. Physical occupat...

Talk

People emotionally dependent on their addictions find the idea of quitting drugs to be terrifying. Psychological dependence on a drug c...

Exercise

Good for the body and the soul, the more you exercise the more energy you’ll have and the less you’ll crave mephedrone....

Leave the scene

If you want to quit using mephedrone you need to stop hanging out with your mates who use it....

Want to quit

Don’t just try quitting because your mum or your girlfriend told you to. You have to want to give it up for yourself before you can s...

Legal does not mean safe!

Just because mephedrone was legal until a couple of years ago doesn’t mean it’s at all safe. If anything it could be more dangerous...

Find a 12-step program

Join a 12-step recovery program such as Narcotics Anonymous to find support for continuing recovery from other former addicts. They can...

Change The Way You Think

Challenge any self-pitying self-talk that you may have about "having to give up the chemical". Remind yourself of the negatives that yo...

Run Away From The "Just Once"

Think through the first drug into the negative consequences. Remind yourself that you cannot have "just once" and that the negative con...

Replace One By One The Effects Of Mephedrone

Make a list of the roles that mephedrone played in your life. Identify at least three healthy alternatives as replacements. Think about...

Write A Letter

Write a letter to someone you love and explain to them why you are not using. It doesn't really matter if this person reads it or not....

Get a health check-up

Quitting or cutting back can be hard on your body. See your doctor or local community clinic to make sure you don't have any untreated ...

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Mephedrone and Brain Damage

Downloads

Web Resources

Quotes

Tips & Hints

Reach out for support

Keep triggers and cravings in check

Learn healthy ways to cope with problems

Look for help

Regain Power

Be aware of overdosing

Avoid oral route

Do Something Physical

Talk

Exercise

Leave the scene

Want to quit

Legal does not mean safe!

Find a 12-step program

Change The Way You Think

Run Away From The "Just Once"

Replace One By One The Effects Of Mephedrone

Write A Letter

Get a health check-up

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