This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/apr/28/mephadrone-clubbing-ecstasy-polydrug

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Clubbers mix former legal high mephedrone with ecstasy, despite ban Clubbers mix former legal high mephedrone with ecstasy, despite ban
(5 months later)
Clubbers are regularly taking the former legal high mephedrone alongside ecstasy and cocaine, a trend that experts warn could have grave health implications.Clubbers are regularly taking the former legal high mephedrone alongside ecstasy and cocaine, a trend that experts warn could have grave health implications.
Mephedrone prices have more than doubled from around £10 a gram to between £20 and £25 since the drug was banned in April 2010. However, a new survey of more than 300 clubbers, conducted in south-east London shortly after the ban was introduced and published in the academic journal European Addiction Research, shows they are regularly adding mephedrone to their drug mix, in spite of the higher prices.Mephedrone prices have more than doubled from around £10 a gram to between £20 and £25 since the drug was banned in April 2010. However, a new survey of more than 300 clubbers, conducted in south-east London shortly after the ban was introduced and published in the academic journal European Addiction Research, shows they are regularly adding mephedrone to their drug mix, in spite of the higher prices.
The research found that polydrug use was now the norm among clubbers, who are happy to mix legal, newly banned and established illegal club drugs. It indicates that criminalising drugs has little effect on consumption other than to provide new revenue streams for dealers selling established illicit substances. Experts say the findings are important because what happens on the club scene is often copied by wider society later on.The research found that polydrug use was now the norm among clubbers, who are happy to mix legal, newly banned and established illegal club drugs. It indicates that criminalising drugs has little effect on consumption other than to provide new revenue streams for dealers selling established illicit substances. Experts say the findings are important because what happens on the club scene is often copied by wider society later on.
The survey found that, among clubbers who reported having taken ecstasy within the past month, three quarters had also taken mephedrone – known in the media as "meow meow" – within the same period. Two thirds of those who reported having taken cocaine within the past month had also used mephedrone over the same period. Nearly 80% of those who had used MDMA powder (ecstasy) in the past month also took mephedrone.The survey found that, among clubbers who reported having taken ecstasy within the past month, three quarters had also taken mephedrone – known in the media as "meow meow" – within the same period. Two thirds of those who reported having taken cocaine within the past month had also used mephedrone over the same period. Nearly 80% of those who had used MDMA powder (ecstasy) in the past month also took mephedrone.
There had been a suspicion that users had been switching to mephedrone as the purity levels of cocaine and ecstasy fell towards the end of the last decade. But the new findings paint a more complex picture of drug use. Many users said they favoured mephedrone over other drugs because it improved the experience of sex.There had been a suspicion that users had been switching to mephedrone as the purity levels of cocaine and ecstasy fell towards the end of the last decade. But the new findings paint a more complex picture of drug use. Many users said they favoured mephedrone over other drugs because it improved the experience of sex.
"Despite concerns about the low purity of popular club drugs such as ecstasy and cocaine at the time, clubbers did not seek to replace those drugs with mephedrone but instead added it to their drug-taking profiles," said one of the study's authors, Dr Karenza Moore of Lancaster University. "We are seeing the extension of certain types of polydrug use, with experienced drug users taking 'legal highs' alongside illegal drugs rather than replacing them.""Despite concerns about the low purity of popular club drugs such as ecstasy and cocaine at the time, clubbers did not seek to replace those drugs with mephedrone but instead added it to their drug-taking profiles," said one of the study's authors, Dr Karenza Moore of Lancaster University. "We are seeing the extension of certain types of polydrug use, with experienced drug users taking 'legal highs' alongside illegal drugs rather than replacing them."
The researchers said polydrug use was an emerging trend whose health consequences needed to be better understood.The researchers said polydrug use was an emerging trend whose health consequences needed to be better understood.
"Polydrug use can increase the potential harms for drug users and wider society, putting a greater strain on health and criminal justice services that are already over-stretched," said the report's co-author, Professor Fiona Measham of Durham University."Polydrug use can increase the potential harms for drug users and wider society, putting a greater strain on health and criminal justice services that are already over-stretched," said the report's co-author, Professor Fiona Measham of Durham University.
"If we know little about individual 'legal highs', we know even less about their combined use. However, our growing understanding of how legal, newly banned and established illegal drugs are used, why and with what consequences, can help to build a picture which allows local decision-makers to target interventions more effectively.""If we know little about individual 'legal highs', we know even less about their combined use. However, our growing understanding of how legal, newly banned and established illegal drugs are used, why and with what consequences, can help to build a picture which allows local decision-makers to target interventions more effectively."
Experts have detected a rise in the number of users injecting the drug. Druglink, the magazine of the charity Drugscope, reports that the practice is common in towns such as Barry in south Wales, Barnsley in South Yorkshire, Worksop in Nottinghamshire and in clusters in Cumbria and Scotland.Experts have detected a rise in the number of users injecting the drug. Druglink, the magazine of the charity Drugscope, reports that the practice is common in towns such as Barry in south Wales, Barnsley in South Yorkshire, Worksop in Nottinghamshire and in clusters in Cumbria and Scotland.
Druglink reports that those injecting mephedrone "are most commonly former or current heroin and crack injectors, although some are teenagers and people who previously have never injected drugs".Druglink reports that those injecting mephedrone "are most commonly former or current heroin and crack injectors, although some are teenagers and people who previously have never injected drugs".
Dr Adam Winstock, founder of the Global Drugs Survey, which is published annually in Mixmag magazine, said that while his surveys indicated that the "mephedrone honeymoon" was over, the drug was creating "microclimates" among users.Dr Adam Winstock, founder of the Global Drugs Survey, which is published annually in Mixmag magazine, said that while his surveys indicated that the "mephedrone honeymoon" was over, the drug was creating "microclimates" among users.
"It seems to be used by younger kids who don't have access to illicit substances, like those who can't afford cocaine and are being targeted by unscrupulous dealers," Winstock said."It seems to be used by younger kids who don't have access to illicit substances, like those who can't afford cocaine and are being targeted by unscrupulous dealers," Winstock said.
There is also a trend for dealers to "cash in" on the mephedrone brand by passing off other substances as the drug. According to a Lancashire police analysis, 40% of the new range of psychoactive substances they seized in the last year were the mephedrone alternative 4-MEC. Only 29% of the seizures were actual mephedrone.There is also a trend for dealers to "cash in" on the mephedrone brand by passing off other substances as the drug. According to a Lancashire police analysis, 40% of the new range of psychoactive substances they seized in the last year were the mephedrone alternative 4-MEC. Only 29% of the seizures were actual mephedrone.
If you are worried about your use of mephedrone or other drugs, you can get free, anonymous feedback on your use of drugs at www.drugsmeter.com.If you are worried about your use of mephedrone or other drugs, you can get free, anonymous feedback on your use of drugs at www.drugsmeter.com.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.