Mephedrone

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Mephedrone
Clinical data
Routes of
administration
Oral, Insufflated
ATC code
  • none
Legal status
Legal status
  • Illegal in Israel, Norway, Sweden and the US (analogue law)
Identifiers
  • 1-(4-methylphenyl)-2-methylaminopropan-1-one
PubChem CID
ChemSpider
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.189.720 Edit this at Wikidata
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC11H15NO
Molar mass177.242 g·mol−1

4-Methylmethcathinone (4-MMC; Mephedrone) is a research chemical of the phenethylamine, amphetamine, and cathinone chemical classes. It reportedly produces stimulant and entactogenic effects that are comparable to those of similar drugs such as MDMA ("Ecstasy") and methylone.[1]

History

The drug was used in early products by the legal high company Neorganics,[2] 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,[3] but little is known about its pharmacology or toxicology as of yet.[2] Mephedrone has recently been reported as having been sold as "ecstasy" in the Australian city of Cairns, along with ethylcathinone.[4][5][6]

Toxicity

At present, very little is known about the toxicity of 4-methylmethcathinone.

Mephedrone was scheduled to be classified as a "dangerous substance" 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 on Monday, December 15.[7]

The 18-year-old and some friends took the substance in combination with cannabis, cocaine, and MDMA 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 reports.[8]

Legal issues

  • Denmark: Denmark's Minister for Health and Prevention Jakob Axel Nielsen banned "mephedrone", "flephedrone" and ethylcathinone on Dec 18, 2008. (from Ministry of Health and Prevention press release)
  • Finland: Through the Medicines Act, 4-methylmethcathinone is classified as a "medicinal product", making it illegal to manufacture, import, possess, sell, or transfer it without a prescription. (from ot.fi, date unknown and City.fi, Sep 5 2008)
  • Israel: In December 2007, 4-methylmethcathinone was added to Israel's list of controlled substances, making it illegal to buy, sell, or possess.
  • Norway: The "Derivatbestemmelsen" is an Analog Act-type law in Norway that controls 4-methylmethcathinone, Bk-MBDB, Bromo-Dragonfly, 1,4butanediol, GBL, and MBDB. See legemiddelverket.no. (last updated April 29 2009)
  • 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. Use of 4-methylmethcathinone is not explicitly illegal under this regulation. (Goteborg.se, Nov 19 2008; Corren.se, Dec 6 2008)
  • U.S.: 4-Methylmethcathinone is unscheduled in the United States. It is possible that it could be considered an analog of a scheduled substance, in which case, sales for human consumption or possession with the intent to ingest could be prosecuted under the Federal Analogue Act though we are unaware of any such existing cases (Mar 03 2008).

See Also

References

  1. ^ Eldridge, Palmer (2008-02-05). "A New Stimulus". Erowid.org. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
  2. ^ a b "Bluelight — View Single Post — Neo-doves Part II".
  3. ^ "Davies S. Drug Trends and New Designer Drugs. St George's University of London. 6th November 2008" (PDF). Retrieved 2009-08-11.
  4. ^ "Killer pills hit Cairns". Cairns.com.au. 2008-06-18. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
  5. ^ "Police warn of potentially fatal 'fake ecstasy'". Abc.net.au. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
  6. ^ "Ecstasy users warned of drug switch". News.com.au. 2008-06-20. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
  7. ^ "Teenager dies of 'net drug' overdose — The Local".
  8. ^ "Woman died of mephedrone".

External Links