Mephedrone looks set to become an illegal drug
Posted on: Thursday 1st April 2010
The UK Government announced that it is set to ban mephedrone and related cathinones under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. As long as UK Parliament agrees, it will be controlled as a Class B drug on the 16th April 2010, meaning that it will be illegal to be sold and illegal to possess. The UK Government has also placed an immediate ban on the importation of these substances into the country.
Drugs are classified according to the harm they cause, and as UK Government drug experts say that mephedrone is similar to amphetamines (speed) it should be classified as a class B drug, meaning that there will be a maximum penalty of 5 years in jail and an unlimited fine for possession and 14 years and unlimited fine for supply.
Mephedrone belongs to a group of drugs known as cathinones which are stimulants similar to amphetamine-type compounds, but they can also have ecstasy-like effects. The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, who advise the UK Government on these issues have said that mephedrone and the related cathinones are likely to be harmful to users.
The risks and effects
The dangers and risks are now becoming clear. It is early days and the current evidence is therefore limited, but self reports from users and clinical observations by doctors do suggest that mephedrone can:
- produce feelings of euphoria and arousal
- make you feel more alert
- make you more talkative
- create feelings of empathy
- reduce inhibitions
- make you feel anxious or paranoid
- over stimulate your heart making it beat faster
- over stimulate your nervous system which can cause fits
- restrict your circulation which can cause cold / blue hands and feet
- damage the nose through snorting and bring on severe nose bleeds
- bring on a low mood and comedown after a binge
- cause death
These risks are likely to be increased if you combine mephedrone with alcohol or other drugs.
We will keep you posted about the change to the law and any increased understanding of the risks.
Read more about mephedrone in our Drugs A-Z.
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