How does mephedrone work

Many users believe that its occasional use is not habit-forming, but this has not been proven. Methadone is a pharmaceutical medication. It is a synthetic opiate used as a very powerful painkiller to treat people who are addicted to heroin. This medicaton is a legal substitute for heroin in treatment programs, and is given to patients in the form of a green liquid at drug treatment clinics.

Research has indicated that prolonged use of mephedrone can lead to paranoia , depression , hallucinations, and severe panic attacks , as well as adverse effects on the heart, arteries, and kidneys. Excessive stimulation of the CNS can lead to headaches , insomnia , and a rapid heartbeat.

People who snort the drug may have nosebleeds and damage to the tissues and structures inside the nose. The drug can cause grinding of the teeth, nausea, vomiting, and a suppressed appetite. It has also been linked to impotence. A number of deaths have been linked to use of the drug. Growing numbers of people are injecting the drug. This involves a risk of infection, for example with hepatitis C or HIV , or damage to veins, leading to an abscess, a blood clot, or gangrene. Unlike many other recreational drugs, such as amphetamines and ecstasy, mephedrone was not first developed as a medicine but in backstreet laboratories.

It has not been tested on humans. As a result, it is not known what the medium-term, long-term, or many of the short-term effects might be. Users may take larger doses to get the same effect, so it cannot be seen as less harmful than ecstasy or amphetamines.

More scientific research is needed into the effects of mephedrone. Most countries had already banned or restricted its use by Experts say it is too early to tell whether the drug is addictive or not, because it has not been in use for long enough to fully study the long-term effects of mephedrone use. A significant number of users take another dose after an hour, when the effects start to wear off. As a result, users may consume more than they intended to, and they may find it hard to stop.

More evidence is needed to determine whether the drug can cause addiction. The drug appears to have first become available in , according to a European Union knowledge tool called The Psychonaut Research Project.

It was at this time the purchase of the drug started to be discussed on forums. The first reported seizure of mephedrone happened in French police sent a tablet they assumed to be ecstasy for analysis.

One of the biggest issues with mephedrone is its unpredictability. Homemade laboratories continue to tweak the substance to find the perfect drug to sell. As a result, batches can vary in their effects and often contain potent concoctions of different substances that should never be combined together. One of the most concerning risks of mephedrone is its addictiveness. The drug produces intense cravings for more of the drug during the mephedrone comedown period. This well known associated side effect leads many users to binge on the drug for many hours, even days.

In many cases of heavy mephedrone use, a psychological and even physical dependence has been reported. Once addicted to mephedrone, it is incredibly difficult to stop. Many people associate drug withdrawal syndrome with depressant drugs such as alcohol, opiates or benzodiazepines, but stimulants can also have a very unpleasant withdrawal period.

This, coupled with overwhelming cravings for more of the drug, can keep a user in a destructive cycle that is very difficult to break.

Unfortunately, the NHS does not recognise stimulant drugs such as mephedrone as being physically addictive, whereas Rehab Guide does. We know that with heavy or frequent use of ANY drug, the brain becomes accustomed to having it.

Take the drug away abruptly, and withdrawal symptoms do occur, both physically and mentally. Stopping mephedrone when you have been taking it frequently and for a prolonged period of time will produce the following withdrawal symptoms:. If you or someone you love, suffer from an addiction to mephedrone, M-CAT, Miow Miow or a similar stimulant drug, help is available to help you through the detox process.

While the NHS does not offer detox for a mephedrone dependence, our private inpatient rehabs do. All of our detox clinics and rehab centres are CQC registered and run by qualified medical professionals, experienced in treating addiction. On admitting to one of our exemplary drug detox clinics, we will ensure that you are provided with a full medical detox. We use approved pharmaceutical medications to help make detoxing more comfortable and completely achievable.

We appreciate that detoxing from any drug is scary, and this can lead addicted individuals to continue in a downward spiral.

If you are stuck in the perpetual cycle of mephedrone addiction, it can feel like there is no way out. You can feel trapped and lose all hope. Let us reassure you that recovery from addiction is possible and it starts with asking for professional help. Rehab Guide wants to help those suffering from addiction to break free, firstly from the drug they are addicted to, then from their addiction. Our mephedrone rehabilitation programme consists of evidence-based treatments designed to heal our patients on a mental, physical, social, emotional and spiritual level.

If you are someone that cannot stop using mephedrone and it costs you more than just money, rehab really is a lifesaver. Mephedrone rehab can also be more affordable than you may think; it is certainly considered to be the most effective and intensive professional intervention available.

However, if you are looking for free help for mephedrone abuse, we recommend contacting your local drug and alcohol services; this way, you can be supported in the community while you try to stop using. For more information on how Rehab Guide can help you or a loved one to break free from Mephedrone addiction, call today on Trained in addictionology in the Johnson Model, and specializing in substance abuse for individual and couple counselling. John's personal experience has given him a wealth of insights, which he integrates into practice.

His extensive training has allowed him to gain expertise in individual and group counselling, concurrent disorders, case management, executing treatment plans and relapse prevention. He started this free helpline as a result of a life change and to help others get sober and live a life free from drugs and alcohol. John covers a variety of topics relating to addiction and recovery in his articles. Some users have reported blue or cold fingers — probably because mephedrone affects the heart and the circulation.

There have been reports of people being hospitalised due to the short-term effects of mephedrone. It risks overstimulating your nervous system, which may cause hallucinations, feelings of agitation and even fits. Overheating has been a significant cause of deaths when other amphetamine-type drugs, such as ecstasy , have been used along with mephedrone. Injecting mephedrone is particularly dangerous for several reasons, including the fact that it's easier to overdose from injecting.

You increase the risks to yourself, including the risk of death, if you combine alcohol with mephedrone or any other drug that causes a high. Some users have reported a strong psychological dependence to the drug, which can lead to the user taking increasing amounts. Supplying someone else, even your friends, can get you up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.

Like drink-driving, driving when high is dangerous and illegal. If the police catch people supplying illegal drugs in a home, club, bar or hostel, they can potentially prosecute the landlord, club owner or any other person concerned in the management of the premises.

If you or someone else needs urgent help after taking drugs or drinking, call for an ambulance. Tell the crew everything you know. It could save their life.