One of the settings where drug use is most common is at night-time parties. Whether in nightclubs or private venues, these places become conducive for young people and not-so-young people to turn to illegal substances to add an extra dose of fun and excess. Of the different drugs that have been used over the years, there is one that has appeared relatively recently and has gained popularity in recent times. It is mephedrone, a substance whose effects fall somewhere between cocaine and MDMA.
Professional help for drug use in leisure settings
What is mephedrone?
Mephedrone is a synthetic drug that belongs to the cathinone family. Cathinone is obtained from the leaves of a flowering plant typical of the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula known as khat or Catha edulis. For centuries, the practice of chewing khat leaves has been known for its psychostimulant effect similar to that of amphetamines. Cathinone is the main active component of these leaves. From the 1920s onwards, based on the chemical structure of cathinone, new compounds began to be synthesised, known as synthetic cathinones (SCs). One of the first SCs developed was mephedrone in 1929.
Considered illegal throughout the European Union since 2010, getting mephedrone was fairly easy online before it was outlawed. This is because both this drug and other synthetic cathinones were for years key components of the so-called “bath salts” or “plant fertiliser”, and their sale online was advertised for these specific uses. Mephedrone was first synthesised in 1929 by Sáenz de Buruaga, Professor of Chemistry at the University of Santiago. However, it was not until the beginning of this century that this substance began to gain popularity among users.
A drug with ups and downs
Until 2003, mephedrone was relatively unknown among people who typically use synthetic drugs. However, from that year onwards, this cathinone experienced a “rediscovery” driven by several factors. First, its then-legal status made it an alternative to MDMA or cocaine, with which it shares similar effects. This initial legality allowed it to spread rapidly in certain settings in the years that followed. On the other hand, the “ecstasy crisis” during the 2000s, with a notable drop in MDMA purity, ended up strengthening the mephedrone market.
From the outset, the use of this drug has been closely linked to party settings and electronic music. Mephedrone is the most popular synthetic cathinone in Europe, with the Scandinavian countries and the United Kingdom being the places where its use is most widespread. In Spain, however, its use is lower by comparison. After its EU-wide ban in 2010, its use declined while its price soared. Even so, it remains quite affordable when compared with other more classic drugs such as cocaine.
How mephedrone is used
Mephedrone can come in the form of powder, crystals, tablets, or capsules. The colour of the powder can range from pure white to yellow or brownish. Routes of administration also vary: intranasal, oral, rectal, intravenous, intramuscular, or subcutaneous. However, the most common route of use is intranasal, and it is common to alternate it with oral use to relieve the discomfort caused in the nasal phases after repeated use. It is also water-soluble, so it can be dissolved in drinks and taken this way.
Medical assessment in substance addictions
Typical mephedrone doses tend to be between 100 and 200 mg per hour, with higher oral doses (100–250 mg) and lower snorted doses (5–75 mg). When taken orally, effects usually begin 30–45 minutes after the first use and last between 2 and 5 hours. When taken intranasally, mephedrone starts to take effect within 10–20 minutes, lasting approximately one to two hours. In addition, it is common to combine it with other substances to enhance or mitigate the effects, such as cannabis, alcohol, or other psychostimulants.
Psychological dependence on stimulant drugs
Effects of mephedrone
People who regularly use mephedrone often compare its effects to those of MDMA and methamphetamine. Among the effects they describe are:
- A state in which a euphoric mood predominates, with increased alertness and energy levels, as well as improved ability to concentrate.
- A feeling of increased creativity and productivity.
- Increased empathy and sociability, with greater talkativeness and a certain increase in sexual interest.
- A state of heightened mental functions with increased perception of music, analgesic effects, and reduced appetite.
- Increased motor activity, although to a lesser extent than MDMA or methamphetamine.
On the other hand, both mephedrone and other synthetic cathinones have a strong addictive potential. Animal studies have shown that the tendency for self-administration of mephedrone is similar to that caused by methamphetamine. In this way, the intense crash that occurs after using this drug could also explain psychological dependence on it.
Risks of mephedrone use
Several adverse effects may appear after using mephedrone. The most common include:
- Cardiac alterations such as tachycardia and hypertension.
- Sweating and hyperthermia.
- Paranoid thoughts
- Anxiety
- Chest pain
- Agitation and aggressiveness.
- Headache
- Nausea
With regard to deaths related to the use of this drug, the causes tend to be self-harm or suicide, and cardiac or multi-organ failure. Many of these deaths occur during weekends and the days that follow, as would be expected given the pattern of use as a recreational substance. The victims are young, generally men, with a history of substance use.
