Leslie Massey
Mephedrone is a synthetic drug with stimulant and hallucinogenic properties that was first synthesised in 1929 but remained relatively unknown until 1999-2000. By 2008, law enforcement agencies had become aware of the substance, and it was reported in several European countries. In Australia, mephedrone is considered illegal as it is an analogue of methcathinone, a controlled drug. While it is not specifically listed as prohibited, it falls under the Poisons Standard Schedule 9, which includes substances that may be abused or misused and are thus illegal to manufacture, possess, sell or use.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Legality in Australia | Illegal |
| First made illegal in Australia | 2010 |
| Australian Federal Police statement | Mephedrone is an analogue to methcathinone |
| Listed as in Australia | Schedule 9 prohibited substance under the Poisons Standard |
| Mephedrone use in Australia | 21% of regular ecstasy users in Australia had used mephedrone in 2010 |
| Arrests related to Mephedrone in Australia | 22 men were arrested in connection with importing mephedrone in February 2010 |
| Mephedrone knowledge in Australia | Detainees in East Perth were the most likely to have reported knowledge of mephedrone |
| Mephedrone in Australia | Marketed as a plant fertiliser |
| Mephedrone health concerns in Australia | Self-mutilation and death |
| Mephedrone study in Australia | A study was conducted with 693 regular ecstasy users from all state and territory jurisdictions |
| Mephedrone knowledge in Australia | 27% of 824 detainees interviewed had heard of Mephedrone |
| Mephedrone in Australia | Available in powder form or pressed into pill form |
| Mephedrone health risks in Australia | Euphoria, increased energy levels, anxiety, visual hallucinations, blurred vision, hot flushes, erratic heart rate, skin rash |
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What You'll Learn
Mephedrone is a synthetic drug with stimulant and hallucinogenic properties
Mephedrone is also known by several street names, including "meow meow", "4-MMC", "drone", and "MCAT". It is a synthetic cathinone, a group of drugs that concern public health officials due to their stimulant and hallucinogenic effects. These drugs are unregulated and have become newly available in the market, often intended to mimic the effects of illegal drugs.
In Australia, mephedrone is now a controlled substance and is listed as a Schedule 9 prohibited substance under the Poisons Standard (October 2015). This means that it is illegal to manufacture, possess, sell, or use mephedrone, except for specific purposes such as medical or scientific research with the approval of relevant health authorities. This classification was made due to the drug's potential for abuse or misuse, as well as its associated health risks.
The Australian government has recognised the need for developing an evidence base and monitoring trends in illicit drug use, including mephedrone, to ensure that health and law enforcement responses are adequately targeted. This includes gathering information about the prevalence and harms associated with the drug, as well as its availability and routes of administration.
Mephedrone has been associated with various psychological and physical effects. Psychologically, users may experience euphoria, increased energy levels, anxiety, and, in some cases, visual hallucinations. Physically, it can cause blurred vision, hot flushes, an erratic heart rate, and skin rashes. Additionally, there have been reports of more severe toxic effects, including agitation, hypertension, delirium, aggression, hyperthermia, cardiac arrhythmias, and seizures.
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It is illegal in Australia under the Poisons Standard
Mephedrone is a synthetic drug with stimulant and hallucinogenic properties. It is also known by several street names, including "meow meow", "4-MMC", "drone", and "MCAT". In Australia, mephedrone is considered illegal under the Poisons Standard.
In 2010, mephedrone was not specifically listed as a prohibited substance in Australia. However, the Australian Federal Police stated that it is an analogue to methcathinone, making it illegal. Subsequently, in October 2015, mephedrone was listed as a Schedule 9 prohibited substance under the Poisons Standard.
Schedule 9 substances are those that may be abused or misused, and their manufacture, possession, sale, or use is prohibited by law. Exceptions are made for medical or scientific research or for analytical, teaching, or training purposes with the approval of relevant health authorities.
The classification of mephedrone as a Schedule 9 substance in Australia highlights the efforts to address the drug's potential for abuse and misuse. This classification ensures that mephedrone is subject to strict regulations, and its possession, sale, or use can result in legal consequences.
In addition to being classified as a Schedule 9 substance, mephedrone is also included in the list of controlled drugs in Australia. By January 2011, every state in Australia, except Victoria, had listed mephedrone as a controlled drug, further reinforcing the illegal status of the substance in the country.
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It was originally marketed as a plant fertiliser
Mephedrone is a synthetic drug with stimulant and hallucinogenic properties. It was first synthesised in 1929 but remained relatively unknown until it was rediscovered in 1999-2000. At that time, it was legal to produce and possess in many countries, including Australia.
Originally marketed as a plant fertiliser, mephedrone soon became a significant public health and law enforcement concern. This was due to reports of its apparent link to self-mutilation and, in some cases, death. In 2010, an annual survey of regular ecstasy users in Australia found that 21% had used mephedrone, with 17% having done so in the previous six months. The price they paid per gram varied from A$16 to $320.
As mephedrone gained popularity, law enforcement agencies struggled to target interventions effectively due to the drug's elusive nature. It was often sold under the guise of 'research chemicals' or 'plant food', making it challenging for authorities to track its production and distribution channels.
In Australia, mephedrone is now listed as a Schedule 9 prohibited substance under the Poisons Standard (October 2015). This classification indicates that mephedrone is a substance that may be abused or misused, and its manufacture, possession, sale, or use is prohibited by law, except for specific exempted purposes, such as medical or scientific research, with the approval of relevant health authorities.
The Australian government's decision to schedule mephedrone as a controlled substance reflects the recognition of its potential for harm and its impact on public health.
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It is also known as 'meow meow' or 'MCAT'
Mephedrone, also known as 4-methylmethcathinone, 4-MMC, and 4-methylephedrone, is a synthetic stimulant drug with hallucinogenic properties. It is commonly referred to by slang names such as "meow meow", "M-CAT", "white magic", "drone", "bubble", "bounce", "bath salts", "mad cow", "m-cat", "plant food", "kitty cat", and "bubbles". Chemically, it is similar to the cathinone compounds found in the khat plant, native to eastern Africa.
Mephedrone was first synthesised in 1929 but remained relatively obscure until it was rediscovered around 1999-2000. At that time, it was legal to produce and possess in many countries, including Australia. By 2000, mephedrone was available for sale on the internet, and by 2007, it had gained popularity in Europe, especially in the United Kingdom.
In Australia, mephedrone was not specifically listed as a prohibited substance in 2010. However, the Australian Federal Police stated that it is an analogue to methcathinone and, therefore, illegal. Subsequently, in April 2014, the Criminal Code (Controlled Drugs) Legislation Amendment Regulation 2014 added 44 new illicit substances, including synthetic cathinones like mephedrone, to the list of prohibited substances. This made it a criminal offence to possess mephedrone and a serious trafficking offence to possess a certain amount of the drug.
Mephedrone has been associated with several adverse effects, including euphoria, increased energy levels, anxiety, visual hallucinations, blurred vision, hot flushes, erratic heart rate, and skin rash. It has also been linked to self-mutilation and, in some cases, death.
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It was first synthesised in 1929
Mephedrone is a synthetic molecule of the cathinone family. Cathinones are structurally similar to amphetamines, and mephedrone contains a phenethylamine core. Mephedrone was first synthesised in 1929 but remained relatively obscure until it was rediscovered around 1999–2003. It was first recorded in a French medical journal in 1929 under the name "toluyl-alpha-monomethylaminoethylcetone". The synthesis was first reported by Saem de Burnaga Sanchez in the Bulletin de la Société Chimique de France.
In 2003, it was "re-discovered" and publicised by an underground chemist on The Hive website, registered to a Portuguese IP working under the pseudonym "Kinetic". By 2000, mephedrone was available for sale on the internet. By 2008, law enforcement agencies had become aware of the substance, and by 2010, it had been reported in most European countries, with significant prevalence in the United Kingdom.
Mephedrone was first made illegal in Israel in 2008, followed by Sweden later that year. By 2010, many European countries had banned the substance, and in December of that year, the European Union ruled it illegal. In Australia, mephedrone is not specifically listed as illegal, but it is controlled under legislation that makes compounds illegal if they are analogues of drugs already listed. It is considered an analogue to methcathinone and is, therefore, illegal. It is now listed as a Schedule 9 prohibited substance in Australia under the Poisons Standard (October 2015).
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, mephedrone is illegal in Australia. It is considered an analogue of other illegal drugs and can be controlled under laws similar to the US Federal Analog Act. It is listed as a Schedule 9 prohibited substance in Australia under the Poisons Standard (October 2015).
By January 2011, every state in Australia, other than Victoria, had listed mephedrone as a controlled drug. In April 2014, the Criminal Code (Controlled Drugs) Legislation Amendment Regulation 2014 amended the Criminal Code Regulation 2005 by inserting mephedrone into the list of Schedule 1 prohibited substances.
Mephedrone is a synthetic drug with stimulant and hallucinogenic properties. It is also known by several street names, including "meow meow", "4-MMC", "drone", and "MCAT".
