The drug is mainly seen in the UK, and is the fourth most popular substance behind cannabis, cocaine, and MDMA. Common methods of use include injection, insufflation (snorting) and capsules or tablets. The most popular method of delivery is insufflation, while injection is the least popular.
Mephedrone's Effects
However, like all illicit stimulant drugs in the amphetamine class, mephedrone can produce unpleasant or harmful side effects, particularly in large doses. These include:
- Rapid heartbeat (palpitations)
- Excessive sweating
- Headaches
- Nausea and vomiting
- Vasoconstriction, causing coldness in the extremities
- Increased blood pressure
- Delusions of grandeur
- In severe cases, hallucinations Paranoia Bruxism (teeth grinding) Tremors Anxiety and panic attacks
Mephedrone Myths
Like most illegal drugs, there have been several urban myths surrounding mephedrone. In the UK, media outlets commonly referred to the drug as "plant food,” claiming that it was commonly sold as a fertilizer because it could not be legally marketed for human consumption. However, the drug is not appropriate as a plant food and has never been used as such.
In 2009, it was reported in The Sun, a British tabloid publication, that a young man had torn off his own testicles while under the influence of mephedrone. Later on, it became known that the story was an online hoax. Police reports about the supposed incident included a note that the details were unreliable at best. Nonetheless, the tabloid picked up on the story and ran with it.
Yet, another myth involved a fictitious media report that mephedrone had been causing a rash of deaths among young people after snorting even small doses of the drug. This caused mephedrone to be classified as a Class B substance under UK drug law. However, as the media outrage dwindled, it became known that mephedrone use was the actual cause of death in very few of the reported cases.
Long-Term Health Effects
Because mephedrone is structurally similar to amphetamines, it can be assumed to carry the same potential for long-term harm. This can include:
- Addiction
- Psychosis
- Anxiety and depression
- Addiction
- Impaired memory and cognitive function
- Excessively low body weight due to appetite suppression
- A drawn, haggard appearance
- Behavioral problems including violence, impulsivity, and recklessness
- Heart problems
- Infections associated with IV drug use, such as hepatitis
Currently, little is known about mephedrone's actual long-term effects on health and functioning. Because the substance is relatively new, few comprehensive studies have been performed, although it's safe to consider the drug potentially hazardous to health. Legal Issues
In the UK, where mephedrone use is the most widespread, it has been categorized under Class B of the UK Misuse of Drugs Act. This classification falls between Class A, which includes substances with the greatest harm potential, and Class C, which contains those with the least potential for harm. Possession in the UK carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and an unlimited fine. Sale carries a 14-year max sentence, as well as an unlimited fine.
In the US, mephedrone is placed under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). This classification means that the drug has a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical value. Trafficking and production of all Schedule I substances in any quantity is a felony offense carrying a maximum sentence of life in prison. Possession of any amount is also a felony and carries a maximum punishment of seven years imprisonment. It should be noted that the penalties may vary by state, and may also include fines.
