Mephedrone crystal rocks

Mephedrone crystal rocks – More information

4-Methylmethcathinone (also known as 4-MMC, M-CAT, drone, meow meow, and mephedrone) is a novel entactogen–stimulant substance of the cathinone class. Mephedrone belongs to a group known as the substituted cathinone, which are derivatives of the active ingredient in the khat plant (Catha edulluis).

Mephedrone was first synthesized in 1929, but did not become widely known until it was rediscovered in 2003. By 2007, it was reported to be available for sale on the internet, by 2008 law enforcement agencies had become aware of the compound, and by 2010 it had been reported in most of Europe, becoming particularly prevalent in the United Kingdom.

It comes in the form of tablets or a powder, which users can swallow, snort, inject or insert rectally, producing effects which are somewhat similar to those of MDMA, amphetamine, and cocaine. It is reported to produce a mixture of classic stimulant and entactogenic effects effects reminiscent of cocaine and MDMA.

clinical data

Mephedrone dosage table

Mephedrone effect progress

Chemistry

Mephedrone, or 4-methylmethcathinone, is a synthetic molecule of the cathinone family. Cathinones are structurally similar to amphetamines, they contain a phenethylamine core featuring a phenyl ring bound to an amino (NH2) group through an ethyl chain with an additional methyl substitution at R_α. Amphetamines and cathinones are alpha-methylated phenethylamines, cathinones contain an additional carbonyl group at R₁. Mephedrone contains an additional methyl substitutions at R_N, similarly to MDMA and methamphetamine, and R₄ of its phenyl ring.

Toxicity

Almost nothing is known about the long-term effects of mephedrone due to its short history of its use. Along side of this, the exact toxic dosage is unknown.

In 2010, unconfirmed reports speculated about the role mephedrone has played in the deaths of several young people in the UK. By July 2010, mephedrone had been alleged to be involved in 52 fatalities in the UK, but detected in only 38 of these cases. Of the nine that coroners had finished investigating, two were caused directly by mephedrone. The first death reported to be caused by mephedrone use was that of 46-year-old who had underlying health problems and repeatedly injected the drug. A report in Forensic Science International in stated mephedrone intoxication has been recorded as the cause of death in two cases in Scotland.

Despite similarities to known neurotoxins such as methamphetamine and other cathinone derivatives, mephedrone does not appear to produce neurotoxic effects in the dopamine system of mice.

It is strongly recommended that one use harm reduction practices when using this drug.

Tolerance

As with other stimulants, the chronic use of mephedrone can be considered moderately addictive with a high potential for abuse and is capable of causing psychological dependence among certain users. When addiction has developed, cravings and withdrawal effects may occur if a person suddenly stops their usage.

Tolerance to many of the effects of mephedrone develops with prolonged and repeated use. This results in users having to administer increasingly large doses to achieve the same effects. After that, it takes about 3 – 7 days for the tolerance to be reduced to half and 1 – 2 weeks to be back at baseline (in the absence of further consumption). Mephedrone presents cross-tolerance with all dopaminergic stimulants, meaning that after the consumption of mephedrone all stimulants will have a reduced effect.

Serotonin syndrome risk

Combinations with the following substances can cause dangerously high serotonin levels. Serotonin syndrome requires immediate medical attention and can be fatal if left untreated.