Mephedrone (4-Methylmethcathinone) is a synthetic stimulant substance that is illegal and belongs to the cathinone and amphetamine families. It is easily accessible and relatively inexpensive to purchase. Users claim that its effects are comparable to those of cocaine, ecstasy, and speed. Interesting blog about meph: https://mephedrone.com/
Mephedrone was first categorised as a legal high when it first entered the UK market in 2008, however, due to the significant number of deaths it caused, the drug was reclassified as a prohibited substance under the Psychoactive Substances Act of 2016. (1)
Mephedrone, often known as M-CAT and Meow (because it has a mild cat pee smell), was one of the most widely used drugs in the UK from 2008 to 2010. Favoured for its potent effects and low price, the party drug’s darker side soon emerged as the number of deaths linked to it began to climb.
Mephedrone, which is now illegal, is a less common choice for drug users. However, some people continue to use it and develop addiction problems as a result of the drug’s addictiveness. Based on the cathinone chemicals (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathinone ) found in the Khat plant, mephedrone is a synthetic drug.
History of 4-MMC
Khat has existed at least since the 13th century. when Arab scribes first made note of it. Khat is derived from the North African plant Catha edulis, which is extensively grown there. Freshly selected leaves and stems are chewed for a few minutes before being carefully munched on or swallowed. Khat functions similarly to coffee in moderation, suppressing appetite and offering light excitement. Meow Meow drug abuse can lead to grandiose delusions or paranoia, overstimulation, manic behaviour, and even hallucinations.
Street names for mephedrone
- Meow meow
- M-CAT
- Drone
- White magic
- Miow
- Meph
- M-Smack
- MC
- 4-MMC
How meph is used
Most frequently, M-CAT is snorted through a straw or rolled-up bill. Additionally, the off-white to yellowish powder can be bombed or ingested. When a drug is bombed, the user wraps the substance in tobacco paper (or something similar) and ingests it. Snorting or “bumping” M-CAT has a quicker effect because it enters the bloodstream right away.
There are other tablet and capsule versions of mephedrone. Mephedrone can be made into an injectable solution and injected intravenously, just like any other drug that comes in a powder form. The riskiest way to consume mephedrone in terms of overdosing is by injection, despite the fact that it is not a usual mode of administration for powdered drugs.
Help and treatment are available if you or a loved one is battling an addiction. Speak with one of our knowledgeable addiction specialists at Rehab Guide right away to learn more about your treatment choices.
Signs of mephedrone use
It’s critical to take action if you are concerned that a loved one or family member may be using mephedrone. Mephedrone is a highly volatile substance, therefore if they are using it frequently, they almost probably need help from a specialist to stop.
Usage indicators of mephedrone include:
- Dilated eyes
- Being particularly talkative and self-assured
- Skin sores and a runny nose
- Overly sentimental
- Extravagant partying
- Disturbed sleep pattern
- Stay indoors all day and in their bedroom alone.
- Finding a white or yellowish powder in a clear plastic bag or wrap or evidence of drug paraphernalia
- Mood changes
- Appetite reduction and weight loss
- Alterations in personality and appearance
- Being joyful, then irritable
- Borrowing funds they are unable to repay
- Lost money or valuables
Mephedrone is more frequently utilised in the LGBT community (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT ) and by younger male generations to facilitate chemsex. Please encourage anyone you know who you suspect may be using this drug to seek help from a specialist if you have any concerns.
How long does a dose of mephedrone last?
The amount consumed and the method of ingestion have a significant impact on how long a dose lasts. Users who take a 125-milligram dose orally start to see effects in 15–30 minutes, and they can last for up to six hours.
The majority of mephedrone users take many dosages during a single session, spaced on average three hours apart.
When mephedrone is snorted, the effects are felt considerably more quickly and strongly. Because the effects usually wear off quickly, users frequently take continuous doses with very little time in between.
When combined with other substances, such as alcohol, a dose may also linger for a longer time. However, this results in a user’s perception of how much they are taking being altered, thus increasing the likelihood of an overdose.
As a user’s tolerance rises, the duration of a dose of mephedrone will shorten, which usually causes them to react by taking more of the drug.
M-CAT effects
Mephedrone was the fourth most used drug at parties in 2010. The substance was previously a legal high and was readily available online as a plant food drug. A kind of cathinone that is present in Khat naturally serves as the principal active component. Chemically, ephedrine (a stimulant and medicine) and cathinones (cousins of the amphetamine family) are highly similar.
Mephedrone is no longer as common in the party scene, but its effects are still very much in demand in the UK’s chemsex community. Euphoria is brought on by mephedrone, which also heightens sexual excitement and boosts stamina and attentiveness. The drug’s effects are frequently compared to a combination of MDMA, speed, and cocaine (ecstasy).
Aside from feeling: after taking the M-CAT:
- Very alert
- Confident
- Chatty
- Full of energy
- Happy and euphoric
- Sexually aroused
- More sensitive to touch
On the other hand, some undesirable consequences, such as the following, can be quite unpleasant to experience:
- Feeling agitated
- Increased anxiety
- Insomnia
- Loss of appetite
- Hot and sweaty
- Heart palpitations and increased heart rate
- More likely to take risks and make poor decisions
- Panicky
- Paranoid
- Experience hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there)
Mephedrone’s long-term effects can potentially result in heart attack, major long-term mental health concerns, organ damage, coma, and death. Mephedrone is an extremely unpredictable medication.
Just how harmful is mephedrone?
The substance, which was once legally high, is to blame for a significant number of fatalities in the UK. Deaths have decreased in recent years, but this is sole because mephedrone is becoming less popular, not because it is less harmful!
In 2016, 123 people died from products that are still available in the UK, including synthetic cannabis like Spice and methedrone/mephedrone. Despite the government outlawing mephedrone in 2010, the number of deaths linked to the drug grew for a few years after (1)
In Scotland, the number of deaths using novel psychoactive substances increased dramatically from 4 in 2009 to 114 in 2014. M-CAT and synthetic cannabinoids were once more considered to be important contributors (2)
Mephedrone’s unpredictable nature is one of its main drawbacks. In order to create the ideal medicine for the market, homemade laboratories are still modifying the material. As a result, different batches might have varied effects and frequently contain highly potent mixtures of several drugs that should never be mixed together.
Zuella Montemayor did her degree in psychology at the University of Toronto. She is interested in mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.
