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Mephedrone

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Not to be confused with methedrine, methedrone, methadone, or methylone.
Mephedrone
File:Mephedrone.png
Clinical data
Other names4-methyl-N-methylcathinone
Routes of
administration		Oral, insufflated, intravenous[1]
ATC code
  • none
Legal status
Legal status
  • Illegal in Australia, Germany, Israel, Norway, Estonia and Sweden[2]
Identifiers
  • (RS)-1-(4-methylphenyl)-2-methylaminopropan-1-one
CAS Number
PubChem CID
ChemSpider
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.189.720 Edit this at Wikidata
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC11H15NO
Molar mass177.242 g/mol g·mol−1

Mephedrone (2-methylamino-1-p-tolylpropan-1-one),[3] also known as 4-methylmethcathinone (4-MMC), 4-methylephedrone, meow meow, [4] Miaow,[5] or MMCAT[6], is a stimulant and entactogen drug of the phenethylamine, amphetamine, and cathinone chemical classes. It is reported to be contained in some legal highs and is sometimes sold mixed with methylone, also known as bubbles.[7]

Appearance

Mephedrone is most commonly sold as a white powder or crystal form or capsules containing the powder.[8] It can also be found in pill form.

Synthesis

Mephedrone can be synthesised by adding 4-methylpropiophenone dissolved in glacial acetic acid to bromine to create an oil fraction of 4′-methyl-2-bromopropiophenone. This is then dissolved in CH2Cl2 and drops of the solution are added to another solution of CH2Cl2 containing methylamine hydrochloride and triethylamine. Hydrochloric acid is then added and the aqueous layer is removed and turned alkaline using sodium hydroxide before the amine is extracted using CH2Cl2. The CH2Cl2 is then evaporated using a vacuum creating an oil which is then dissolved in a non-aqueous ether. HCl gas is then bubbled through the mixture to produce 4-methylmethcathinone hydrochloride.[9]

History

The Psychonaut Research Project, an EU organisation that searches the internet for information regarding new drugs, first identified mephedrone in 2008. Their research suggests that the drug first became available in 2007.[6] Mephedrone was first seized in France in May 2007 after police sent a tablet that they assumed to be ecstasy to be analysed.[8] The drug was used in early products, such as Neodoves pills, by the legal high company Neorganics,[9] but the range was discontinued in January 2008 after the government of Israel, where the company is based, made mephedrone illegal. It has been reported to be sold as a designer drug,[10] but little is known about its pharmacology or toxicology as of yet. Mephedrone has recently been reported as having been sold as "ecstasy" in the Australian city of Cairns, along with ethylcathinone,[11][12][13] and has also been reported in Europe and the United States.[14][15] It is reportedly currently manufactured in China.[16] The Daily Telegraph reported that manufacturers are making "huge amounts of money" from selling the drug.[17] Druglink magazine reported that dealers in Britain spend £2,500 to ship one kilogram from China but can sell it on for £10 a gram making a profit of £7,500.[18]

Effects

Intended effects

According to the company Crew2000, intended effects include increased alertness, euphoria, excitement, feeling of stimulation, urge to talk, and openness.[7]

Side effects

According to the Darlington Drug and Alcohol Action Team, mephedrone can cause nose bleeds, nose burns, hallucinations, nausea, vomiting, blood circulation problems, rashes, anxiety, paranoia, fits, and delusions.[2] According to Crew2000, other problems may include poor concentration, poor short-term memory, increased heart rate, abnormal heart beats, anxiety, depression, increased sweating, dilated pupils, the inability to normally open the mouth, and teeth grinding.[7]

A survey conducted by the National Addiction Centre, UK found that 51% of mephedrone users said they suffered from headaches, 43% from heart palpitations, 27% from nausea and 15% from cold or blue fingers.[19]

Long-term effects

The BBC News reported that one person who used the drug for 18 months, in the end using it twice a week, had to be admitted to a psychiatric unit after he started experiencing hallucinations, agitation, excitability and mania.[20] Almost nothing is known about the long term effects of the drug due to the short history of its use.[19]

Typical usage and consumption

The Guardian reported that some users compulsively redose, consuming their whole supply when they only meant to use a small dose.[21] A survey conducted by the National Addiction Centre (UK) found that one in three readers of Mixmag had used mephedrone in the last month, making it the fourth most popular drug amongst clubbers.[19]

Toxicity

At present, very little is known about the toxicity of 4-methylmethcathinone. Reported side effects suggest it may cause pronounced peripheral vasoconstriction, which has been speculated to result from formation of the potent vasoconstrictor 4-methylephedrine as a metabolite,[3] a compound known to have significantly more cardiovascular toxicity than ephedrine itself.[22] The Swedish medical journal, Läkartidningen reported that mephedrone could theoretically cause the cardiovascular problems associated with the use of cocaine and amphetamines and serotonin syndrome associated with the use of ecstasy and LSD.[1] Reports of addiction and problematic use have also emerged.[2] Professor David Nutt, former chair of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) in the UK has said "people are better off taking ecstasy or amphetamines than those [drugs] we know nothing about" and "Who knows what's in [mephedrone] when you buy it? We don't have a testing system. It could be very dangerous, we just don't know. These chemicals have never been put into animals, let alone humans."[23] Les King, a former member of the ACMD, has stated that it appears to be less potent than amphetamine and ecstasy but that any benefit associated with this could be negated by users taking larger amounts. He also told the BBC "all we can say is [mephedrone] is probably as harmful as ecstasy and amphetamines and wait until we have some better scientific evidence to support that."[24]

Deaths

  • On December 14, 2008, an 18-year-old Swedish woman died in Stockholm after taking, with friends, mephedrone in combination with cannabis on the night of Friday, 12 December. An ambulance was soon called to Bandhagen after the girl went into convulsions and turned blue in the face, Svenska Dagbladet reported.[25] Doctors reported that she was suffering from hyponatremia and an autopsy revealed the woman's brain had swollen.[1] Mephedrone was scheduled to be classified as a "dangerous substance" in Sweden even before the girl's death at Karolinska University Hospital on Sunday, 14 December, but the death brought much more media attention to the drug. The handling of mephedrone became classified as a criminal offence in Sweden on 15 December 2008.[26]
4-MMC confiscated in Oregon
  • Australia: Mephedrone is not specifically listed as prohibited in Australia. Federal Police have stated that it is an analog to methcathinone and therefore illegal. In February 2010, 22 men were arrested in conjunction with importing mephedrone.[27]
  • Denmark: Denmark's Minister for Health and Prevention, Jakob Axel Nielsen, banned mephedrone,[19] flephedrone and ethylcathinone on December 18, 2008. (from Ministry of Health and Prevention press release)
  • Estonia: Classified as a "narcotic or psychotropic" substance and added to controlled substances list on November 27, 2009.[2][28]
  • Finland: Through the Medicines Act, 4-methylmethcathinone is classified as a "medicinal product", making it illegal to manufacture, import, possess, sell, or transfer without a prescription. (from ot.fi, date unknown and City.fi, September 5, 2008)[2]
  • Germany: Mephedrone became illegal in Germany on January 22, 2010.[29]
  • Hungary: As of February 2010, mephedrone is legal in Hungary but legislators are considering whether to make it illegal.[30]
  • Ireland: Mephedrone is currently legal in Ireland[31] but possession and supply of the drug will become illegal in June 2010.[32]
  • Israel: In December 2007, 4-methylmethcathinone was added to Israel's list of controlled substances, making it illegal to buy, sell, or possess.[2]
  • Netherlands: In March, 2010, the Dutch Ministry of Health and the Medicines Authority IGZ informed the Ministry of Justice that they now consider Mephedrone an unregulated medicine and sales and distribution of it are now prohibited.[33][2]
  • Norway: The "Derivatbestemmelsen" is an Analog Act-type law in Norway that controls 4-methylmethcathinone, Bk-MBDB, Bromo-DragonFLY, 1,4-butanediol, GBL, and MBDB. See legemiddelverket.no. (last updated April 29, 2009)[2]
  • Poland: Mephedrone is still legal in Poland (27.02.2010), but it can be mistakenly regarded as amphetamine by police since it comes out as amphetamine in standard police tests.[34]
  • Romania On February 10, 2010 Romania revised its drug policy including 4-mmc and all cathinone related products to Table I considering it a high risk narcotic. Possession, sale, manufacture or distribution are punishable by 10 to 20 years in prison.[35]
  • Singapore As of February 2010 mephedrone is legal in Singapore, CNN reported that it is ordered over the internet and exported from the UK.[36]
  • Sweden: Classified as a "health hazard" or "hazardous substance" ("hälsofarlig vara") pending further legislation, a ban on 4-methylmethcathinone went into effect on December 15, 2008, making its sale illegal. On June 15, 2009 it was classified as a narcotic.[2][37]
  • United Kingdom: Mephedrone/4MMC is currently not covered by the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971; psychiatrists have lobbied for it to be banned.[16] It is, however, an offence to sell it for human consumption.[2] The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs are investigating mephedrone as a priority along with other legal highs and will report their findings in 2010.[23] To work around the Medicines Act, which prohibits its sale for human consumption, it is often sold as "plant food."[19] The Medicines Act 2003 was changed in February 2010 in the Isle of Man so that the import and sale of mephedrone is now illegal.[38] Jersey has banned the Importation and Guernsey plans to do likewise.[39]
  • United States: 4-Methylmethcathinone is unscheduled in the United States[40] but has been made illegal in North Dakota.[41]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Gustavsson, David (20 October 2009). "Mefedron – Internetdrog som tycks ha kommit för att stanna". Lakartidningen (in Swedish). {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Police warning over 'bubble' drug". BBC News. 20 November 2009. Retrieved 27 November 2009.
  3. ^ a b Meyer MR, Peters FT, Maurer HH (2009). "Metabolism of the new designer drug mephedrone and toxicological detection of the beta keto designer drugs mephedrone, butylone and methylone in urine". Annales de Toxicologie Analytique. 21: S1.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Ozimek, John (2nd December 2009). "Meow madness really is a load of b*ll*cks". The Register. Retrieved 13 January 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/02/12/2818459.htm
  6. ^ a b "Psychonaut WEB MAPPING Project Newsletter". June - September 2009. Retrieved 19 December 2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ a b c "Crew 2000 - Drugs - Information, Advice and Support - Home". Retrieved 2009-11-26. Direct link to PDF file: [1]
  8. ^ a b Roussel O, Perrin M, Herard P, Chevance M, Arpino P (2009). "Is 4-methylephedrone, an "Ecstasy" of the twenty first century?" (PDF). Annales de Toxicologie Analytique (in French). doi:10.1051/ata/2009048.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ a b Camilleri A, Johnston MR, Brennan M, Davis S, Caldicott DG. Chemical analysis of four capsules containing the controlled substance analogues 4-methylmethcathinone, 2-fluoromethamphetamine, alpha-phthalimidopropiophenone and N-ethylcathinone. Forensic Science International. 2010 Jan 13. PMID 20074881
  10. ^ "Davies S. Drug Trends and New Designer Drugs. St George's University of London. 6th November 2008" (PDF). Retrieved 2009-08-11.
  11. ^ "Killer pills hit Cairns". Cairns.com.au. 2008-06-18. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
  12. ^ "Police warn of potentially fatal 'fake ecstasy'". Abc.net.au. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
  13. ^ "Ecstasy users warned of drug switch". News.com.au. 2008-06-20. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
  14. ^ "EMCDDA 2008 Annual Report" (PDF). Retrieved 2009-11-26.
  15. ^ "DEA Microgram Bulletin July 2009" (PDF).
  16. ^ a b Psychiatrists call for 'legal high' drug 4-MMC to be banned, Telegraph, 30 Apr 2009
  17. ^ Legal online drugs providing real alternative to Class A substances, Telegraph, 12 Mar 2009
  18. ^ Campbell, Denis (17 January 2010). "Fears grow over safety of 'legal high' mephedrone". The Observer. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
  19. ^ a b c d e Clubbers are 'turning to new legal high mephedrone' BBC News Jim Reed 13 January 2010
  20. ^ Call for ban on 'legal high' drug, BBC News, 30 April 2009
  21. ^ Online sales of legal alternatives to class A drugs raise safety fears, guardian.co.uk, 12 March 2009
  22. ^ Hartung WH, Munch JC, Deckart WA, Crossley F (1930). "AMINO-ALCOHOLS. II. HOMOLOGS AND ANALOGS OF PHENYLPROPANOLAMINE". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 52 (8): 3317–3322. doi:10.1021/ja01371a046. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  23. ^ a b Saner, Emine (5 Dec 2009). "Mephedrone and the problem with 'legal highs'". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 December 2009.
  24. ^ Reed, Jim (13 January 2010). "What is legal high mephedrone?". BBC Newsbeat. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
  25. ^ "Woman died of mephedrone".
  26. ^ "Teenager dies of 'net drug' overdose — The Local".
  27. ^ "'Miaow' drug seized in mail busts". Sydney Morning Herald. February 12, 2010. Retrieved 12 February 2010.
  28. ^ [2] (in Estonian)
  29. ^ Vierundzwanzigste Verordnung zur Änderung betäubungsmittelrechtlicher Vorschriften (24. BtMÄndV)
  30. ^ [backPid=11&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=7494 Hungary's state health service for banning new recreational drug] Hungary Around the Clock 2010-02-11 archived
  31. ^ Irish youth are fourth highest cocaine users in Europe The Irish Times, November 6 2009 archived
  32. ^ Kelly, Fiack (03 March 2010). "Head shop substances to be banned". Irish Independent. Retrieved 27 March 2010. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  33. ^ Kelly, Fiack (03 March 2010). "Head shop substances to be banned". Irish Independent. Retrieved 27 March 2010. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  34. ^ Ustawa z dnia 20 marca 2009 r. o zmianie ustawy o przeciwdziałaniu narkomanii
  35. ^ Salvia divinorum, psilocybe mushrooms are among hallucinogenic herbs banned by gov’t Financiarul 11 February 2010 archived
  36. ^ Legal in Singapore -- the party drug that's banned everywhere else
  37. ^ Svensk författningssamling (in Swedish)
  38. ^ Now illegal to import drug 'plant food' to Isle of Man
  39. ^ [3]
  40. ^ United States Drug Enforcement Agency Drug Scheduling. Accessed 23:50 GMT 11th January 2010
  41. ^ Substances producing ‘legal highs’ no longer legal


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