Description
Mephedrone is a stimulant and entactogen of the cathinone drug class, known to speed up reactions and functions in the body in many different ways. It was first made in 1929, but was not well-known until it was re-discovered in 2003.
Its prevalence has been suggested to be associated with the decrease in purity and availability of other recreational drugs such as MDMA (Ecstasy) and cocaine in the late noughties. Its effects have been noted as similar to both of these drugs, combining induced feelings of happiness with an ability to stay awake and dance or be sociable.
Desirable Effects
Effects have been noted as similar to cocaine and MDMA
- feelings of happiness
- wakefulness
- sociable
Undesirable Effects
- ‘comedown’ (usually depressed and tired feeling) as effects wear off
- anxiety
What does it look like?
Mephedrone is found as a white powder, or pressed into pills of varying colours and designs.
Method of Use
Snorted: usually divided into lines and snorted (insufflated) via rolled up paper or ‘bumped’/’keyed’ i.e. small amount sniffed.
Swallowed: Taken as a pill, or powder swallowed by ‘bombing’. A ‘bomb’ is prepared by wrapping individual doses in cigarette paper.
Pharmacology
Mephedrone acts as a potent monoamine releasing agent alongside inhibiting their reuptake, in a similar way to MDMA and amphetamines. This means that mephedrone causes dopamine, serotonin and noradrenaline levels to increase rapidly at the synapse (gap) between nerve cells. Mephedrone’s preference for serotonin over dopamine is likely responsible for its MDMA-like effects. However, mephedrone has a weaker affinity for the serotonin transporter (SERT) than MDMA, explaining why its entactogenic effects are less prominent. This more balanced profile of monoamines gives mephedrone its characteristic position as a middle ground between MDMA and cocaine.
Mephedrone is rapidly absorbed, reaching peak concentrations in the blood 30–60 min after oral or intranasal administration. It has a relatively short duration of effects, with a half life of around 2 hours. Mephedrone is broken down primarily by the CYP2D6 enzyme in the liver. As such, taking mephedrone with CYP2D6 inhibitors such as ritonavir is likely to pose significant health risks.
Due to its serotonergic activity, mephedrone taken in combination with MAOIs such as phenelzine carries an increased risk of overdose and serotonin syndrome. It is likely that, like MDMA, SSRIs and SNRIs may blunt the subjective effects of mephedrone.
History
Mephedrone was first synthesised in 1929 by chemist Saem de Burnaga Sanchez. However, its recreational use was not reported until c.2003, and subsequently around 2007 when it started being sold online. By 2010 in the UK, where its use was the most prevalent of the European countries, mephedrone became controlled as a Class B drug and at the same time became cemented as one of the most popular club/dance scene drugs. In the years following this legal change, mephedrone exited the mainstream and became a staple in the queer London rave and chemsex scenes.
However, its time out of the spotlight did not last long. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, use of mephedrone and the MMC’s once again rose in prevalence. This included both intentional and incidental use: in 2023, The Loop found over a fifth of MDMA samples tested contained mephedrone and other substituted cathinones (e.g. 2/3-MMC). These substituted cathinones sometimes included chloromethcathinones (2/3/4-CMC), which are higher in potency as stimulants, but weaker as entactogens.
Law
Possible offences
- Possession
- Maximum sentence – 5 years/fine/both
- Possession With Intent To Supply
- Maximum sentence – 14 years/fine/both
- Supply (including being concerned in supply, conspiracy to supply, aggravated supply and offer to supply)
- Maximum sentence – 14 years/fine/both
- Production
- Maximum sentence – 14 years/fine/both
In practice maximum sentences are rarely used, for more detailed and accurate information go to our sentencing page.
