I am approaching 70 years of age and have been using Mephedrone since October 2009. I am a retired lecturer but still lecture part-time. During the late afternoons I did – and still do — feel intellectually tired and sought a short-term uplift from the legally available sources. None of these helped and therefore a trawl of the internet suggest that Mephedrone might have a similar effect to stimulant cocaine which I used occasionally in my youth. Sampling Mephedrone it became obvious to me that this was not the case. Having bought legally from an online supplier I experimented carefully with the crystalline powder. A measured does of 100 mgs seemed to be more a relaxing experience than anything approaching elation. I continued this dosage daily, usually around 5.30. The relaxing effects tended to last approximately one hour with no noticeable side effects and therefore I bought another 5 gram supply. The experiments over the new year continued with increasing the dosage to 150 mgs, this taken in 3 separate ‘lines’ 30 minutes apart taken nasally. This kept the moderate effects for some 3 hours. Having taken Mephedrone for the months from October – December 2009 the only noticeable effect to my general well being was a loss of appetite and a loss of desire for my regular evening wine which had been at an approximate level of a bottle and half of white 11% wine per day.

The threat of a ban on Mephedrone prompted a final order. This will probably last until the end of the coming October. Having followed the press and medical coverage of this drug I can only comment on the widespread misinformation that surrounds this drug. I was able to contact the National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths
International Centre for Drug Policy, St George’s, University of London to enquire on the reported deaths attributed to Mephedrone use. The toxicology department at that time, May this year, had no definitive evidence that Mephedrone had been a primary cause of any of the reported deaths attributed to Mephedrone and to this date none have so far been confirmed.

Having taken Mephedrone now for some 9 months every day with a dose on 60/100 mgs split into 3 lines taken over a 90 minute period I can report no adverse effects. The issue with Mephedrone for me is dosage: I would imagine that a gram of Mephedrone taken by an individual over, say and an hour period, would be as harmful as drinking half a bottle of Vodka in the same time: devastating if one is new to both substances. In October 2009 I weighed 83 kilos, today I weigh 70 kilos; I eat less but healthily with smaller portions. I drink less, down from 1 and a half bottles of wine a day to less than half a bottle. My general lifestyle includes the Gym 4 times a week and regular checks at my GP indicates stable blood pressure and general good health. It remains to be seen how I will react when the Mephedrone finally runs out but there is definitely no indication from my own physiology that this is anyway for me addictive. I understand that each individual reacts differently to different drugs but I trust that your department can at least have some first hand experiences of users of substances when they are introduce into the market place.

If you need to take this further do let me know. I, like most working within the pharmacology field, do not know the long term effects of drugs both legal and illegal but it is vital that any new drug is thoroughly investigated and I am willing to help in this in any way I can to be objective when looking at an area which won’t go away. One thing that the Mephedrone ban will promote is the illegal supply chain which inevitably will lead to it to be cut with other substances and in the hands of criminal gangs. Of course further research may lead to Mephedrone being seen as a benefit to health, especially if it can be proved to help in obesity and alcohol related problems.

- Unfortunately I still get tired in the late afternoons.

Date: 28 January 2010
Coverage: United Kingdom

• In 2008, there were 9,031 alcohol-related deaths in the United Kingdom. The number increased from 8,724 in 2007.
• Rates have doubled since the early 1990s, from 6.7 per 100,000 population in 1992 to 13.6 per 100,000 in 2008.
• There are more alcohol-related deaths in males than females. In 2008, there were 18.7 per 100,000 in men and 8.7 per 100,000 in women.

Over 3000 people per year die on the UK roads in road accidents.
They do not ban car manufacturing.

Millions of people die every year as casualties of war activities all around the world.
They do not ban production and supply of arms.

Is it the world really becoming insane or is it only my observation?

On the other hand, I’m a pharmacologist and I agree that it is not necessarily safe to be taking a research chemical that has not been through proper pre-clinical or clinical trial procedures, particularly with the anecdotal evidence of vasculitis and breathing problems.

But I think they key point here is, even if huge amounts of research had been done and the drug was safer than paracetamol, it would still be banned. Because of its effect. It is psychoactive, it is stimulant, and it makes you feel quite nice.…which is certainly a no no as far as Governments are concerned.