Mephedrone/M-Cat
mephedrone- Drone
- Bubble
- M-CAT
- Meow Meow
- 4-MMC
- Meph
Scientific Names: 4 methylmethcathinone, 4-MMC
Generic Names:
Mephedrone*.
*Not to be confused with 'Methedrone' (4-methoxymethcathinone) or 'Methylone' (bk-MDMA), or Methadone' (a synthetic opioid).
You cannot always be sure that what you buy is what you get, but if you want to send any substance
off for testing, you can send it to WEDINOS
Mephedrone (4-methylmethcathinone) is a former ‘legal-high’ that still seen in a number of areas, most commonly on the chemsex scene. Mephedrone is usually sold as an off-white, yellow (ish) to brown (ish) coloured powder or sometimes in the form of small crystals. Less commonly these days it is seen as pills and capsules.
Desired Effects:
Users often compare the effects similar to ecstasy, cocaine or amphetamines (speed).- Excitement
- Euphoria
- alertness, and talkative.
Mephedrone is often described as being more of an intense and euphoric stimulant than MDMA, with what is sometimes described as an overwhelming ‘body high’ (tactile sensations) but with slightly less of an empathic feel than MDMA.
Side Effects:
Some of the common side effects include:- feeling or being sick
- excessive sweating (your urine and sweat will smell like cat pee)
- uncomfortable changes in body temperature
- dry mouth
- tightened jaw muscle,
- grinding teeth and muscle twitching
- uncontrollable ‘wiggling eyeballs’ causing blurred vision
- Like other stimulants, blood pressure and heart rate rise, and vasoconstriction (narrowing of blood vessels) occur which can lead to shortness of breath, bad headaches, palpitations, or pain in the chest.
- Anxiety, distress and paranoia are common.
Mephedrone like other powerful stimulants can trigger psychotic episodes and should be avoided by anybody who has experienced psychotic illness or has a history of it in their family.
- As a short rule of thumb (and to state the obvious) the likelihood of negative side effects, risks and harm increases with higher doses. With any new batch it is less risky to start with a test dose and wait an hour before taking any more “start low, go slow”.
- Even if you are not dancing, it is important to avoid overheating when using mephedrone. Take a break and cool down and as a guide a pint of water or non alcoholic fluid should be consumed by sipping every hour.
- Drinking alcohol on stimulants reduces the sedative effects of alcohol and keeps you awake longer, meaning you can easily end up drinking to the point you would normally pass out. This results in an almighty hangover being added to an already unpleasant mephedrone comedown.
- It is risky mixing mephedrone with other drugs: SSRI anti-depressants may increase the risk of serotonin syndrome; other stimulant increases the risk of heart attack, strokes, and toxic effects; Tramadol may increase the risk of seizures. Mephedrone can interact with certain HIV medications.
- Swallowing by wrapping in a cigarette paper (‘bombing’) or mixing with fruit juice and drinking is the least damaging way of using the drug. The effects from swallowing may take longer to start (15 to 45 minutes) and may last 3-5 hours (rather than 1-3 if snorted) with after-effects lasting up to 4 hours.
- Snorting powders should be chopped as finely as possible, and the nose rinsed with water or saline solution after use to minimise the damage. It is not advisable to snort Crystal forms of mephedrone. Straws and banknotes should not be shared as this can spread blood borne viruses (Hep B, Hep C, HIV).
- ‘Booty’ bumping can cause irritation and tissue damage and increase the risk of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI’s). The duration of effects is like snorting the drug.
- Injecting produces the most intense effects but the most risky method of use. Often causes a painful burning sensation at injecting sites, swelling, discomfort and soft tissue damage; cellulitis, abscess and deep vein thrombosis are common. Almost certainly these harms result from poor injecting hygiene, poor injecting technique, the use of unsterile and previously used equipment compounded by repeated and increased frequency of injection when binging. Sharing any injection equipment risks spreading blood borne viruses. Clean injection equipment and advice on safer injection is available from needle exchanges.
- Mephedrone can increase sex drive, arousal, and confidence, leading to feeling far less sexually inhibited. This may be part of the attraction, but some men say this can make it difficult to maintain their normal boundaries, leading to high-risk sexual practices and increased levels of agitation and even aggression.
- If you find you need more to get the same effect, it is a good sign your tolerance has increased and you at risk of becoming dependent. If you notice your tolerance increasing, give it a break. If your use becomes a problem there are free, non-judgmental services that can help.
Long term risks:
Not enough is currently known about mephedrone to say how harmful use would be over a long period of time. It is probable that the long-term harms of mephedrone would be like similar stimulants such as cocaine and MDMA. One of the main features of mephedrone is the strong compulsion to re-dose. Tolerance builds up quickly so the desire to take more & more increases. Dependence can occurShort term risks:
Mephedrone like other powerful stimulants can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. The exact toxic dosage is unknown. Although the use has declined since it was a ‘legal high’, there were still 2 deaths in England and Wales in 2024 associated with mephedrone. Like other powerful stimulants it can trigger psychotic episodes.
Synthetic stimulant - it belongs to the chemical class of cathinones. The effects last for around 2 to 3 hours when taken orally.
Mephedrone is a Class B drug under The Misuse of Drugs Act.
It is rarely smoked but usually snorted or swallowed and in the chemsex scene it is ‘booty’ bumped and injected (‘slamming’).
If the drug is snorted - a razor blade will be used to chop it in to lines on a hard level surface such as a mirror or a sheet of glass or a tile.
Mephedrone is made in illicit labs using several methods of manufacture.
Most areas of the UK have 'street agencies' or projects (sometimes called community drug services or community drug teams) which offer a range of services including information and advice, counselling, needle exchanges and sometimes support groups and complementary therapies such as acupuncture. The increase in stimulant use has led to some agencies offering specialist counselling, cognitive behaviour therapy, acupuncture and other alternative therapies and prescribing of anti-depressants, and also possible referral to residential rehabilitation. Some services have extended working hours and may offer weekend support. GPs and possibly the local hospital A&E department can make referrals to specialist drug services as well as general medical services, information and advice often in partnership with a drug agency or Drug Dependency Unit.
Parents & other relatives
Drug agencies also provide lots of advice and support to parents of people using these drugs. Many street agencies can provide relative support groups or counselling for family members, partners etc.
