Mephedrone: the story
Mephedrone: the story
Mephedrone is the new party drug that's hit the headlines after being linked to several deaths. But what exactly is it and where does it come from?
What is mephedrone?
Mephedrone is a relatively new stimulant, more commonly known by nicknames such as 'plant food' and 'meow meow'. It usually comes as a white powder or in crystals and is dabbed in the mouth or snorted. Occasionally it can be found in the form of pills and capsules. Prior to being outlawed on April 16th 2010, mephedrone's popularity was on the increase; Mixmag’s 2010 drugs survey indicated that 41.7% of its readers tried mephedrone and labelled it "the UK's favourite new drug."
Where does mephedrone come from?
Mephedrone is the best-known of a group of drugs based on the alkaloid cathinone; its chemical name is 4-methylmethcathinone, abbreviated to MMCAT - hence its childish-sounding meow meow nickname. Cathinone is found in the khat plant, which was considered a divine food by the ancient Egyptians, who took it to start a process known as apotheosis. To this day, it is used across East Africa and the Arabian peninsula - most notably in Yemen, Somalia and Ethiopia - both for recreation and, in some cases, by labourers in order to ease physical fatigue. Users tend to chew the plant's fresh leaves to achieve the desired effect.
The synthetically manufactured mephedrone itself was first identified in 2008 by the EU's Psychonaut Research Project. Its laboratory origins are still murky, though it appears to have first emerged in Israeli clubs during the Noughties under the name 'hagigat'. In 2005, Israel outlawed cathinone use in response to this.
Mephedrone and the law
Until April 2010 mephedrone was easy to buy from websites selling it as plant food. A legal loophole meant it was illegal to supply the drug for human consumption, but not for other purposes. It's doubtful whether anyone would ever feed mephedrone to a plant.
The first time [I took it] it felt like a cross between good coke and good MDMA. But by the third time the high was much harder to get.
Now mephedrone and other derivatives of cathinone are illegal in the UK. Mepehdrone itself is currently a Class B drug, meaning users can face up to five years for possession and a maximum of 14 years to dealing.
What are the effects of mephedrone?
Mephedrone induces euphoria and energy in users: it will keep you awake and bring a powerful rush. It's still a relatively new addition to the drug scene and a wide range of positive and negative reports have emerged from users.
Svetlana, 23, has had both good and bad experiences with mephedrone. "The first time it felt great - like a cross between good coke and good MDMA and completely lucid. But by the third time the high was much harder to get and I had to take a lot more. I can also honestly say that it gave me the worst comedown I have ever had," she said. "It lasted for nearly a week and felt as though I couldn't remove the stimulating effects from my system, but in a horrible, toxic way. My sleep was disturbed, I couldn't concentrate and I got chest pains and palpitations." Users have also reported a particularly grim taste when consuming mephedrone through the mouth and a burning sensation when snorted.
A casual user of mephedrone might not notice anything too dissimilar to previous drug experiences, but its newness means a great deal of mephedrone's effects - how it reacts with other substances, for example, or how it can affect body and mind in the long-term - remain unknown. Professor David Nutt, the former chair of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, told the Guardian last December: "People are better off taking ecstasy or amphetamines than those we know nothing about... who knows what's in [mephedrone] when you buy it? We don't have a testing system. These chemicals have never been put into animals, let alone humans."
The Have I Got A Problem website is a free online resource to help people better understand any issues or concerns they may have about mental health or addiction. The website includes resources specifically focused to; general Mental Health, Depression, Stress, Anxiety, Insecurities, Self-harm Schizophrenia, Bipolar, Anger Management, Eating Disorders, Coping, general Addiction, Alcohol, Smoking, Gambling, Drugs, Cocaine, Heroin, Marijuana (Cannabis) Ecstasy, PCP, Mephedrone, Ketamine & Crystal Meth.
The site was created to give the public information to help them understand mental health and addiction issues and to assist people in making better informed decisions about their life and personal choices.
www.haveigotaproblem.com was created and is run by 'Advising Communities’, which is a UK registered charity (Charity No. 1061055)
Downloads
Quotes
"The back of your nose fills up with snotty gunk and blood, and is scabbed afterwards."
Beth
MoreSend us your QuotesTips & Hints
Reach out for support
Don’t try to go it alone. Whatever treatment approach you choose, having a solid support system is essential. The more positive influ...MoreKeep 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...MoreLearn 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...MoreLook 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...MoreRegain 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 ...More More Tips & Hints
