Questions About Methadrone

Questions About Methadrone and Legal Highs

What are methadrone and legal highs?

Methadrone and Legal Highs are a group of stimulants that are closely chemically related to amphetamines. Users report that it produces a similar experience to drugs like Amphetamines, Ecstasy, MDMA or Cocaine.

It is not known how many people use Methadrone or other Legal Highs at the moment. However subjective evidence suggests that these drugs have become popular among students, club-goers and among more general recreational drug users. They can be bought on the internet and there are a significant number of websites which sell these drugs. The prices are low in comparison to similar drugs. Which is making the situation rather alarming? Methadrone and Legal Highs are mainly sold in bags containing a gram of the drug which retail for approximately £10 - £15 via the internet.

It is common for websites to advertise this product as ‘plant feeder’ or ‘not for human consumption’ to avoid prosecution. The legality of Methadone and Legal Highs are complex, as of yet this is not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act. This means that currently it is legal to be in possession of this substance. However, because this substance has drug effects, it is illegal to sell, supply or advertise in the UK under the Medicines Act, even with disclaimers like ‘plant feeder’. This law only applies to retail shops and websites based in the UK.

What are the effects of taking methadrone and legal highs?

At the moment there is no significant medical information on the effects of Methadrone or these other Legal Highs although it is currently becoming more popular on the dance drug scene and in Universities, so reports have to rely on sketchy information from users, for example many people who have used Methadone report that their experiences are similar to taking Amphetamines, Ecstasy, MDMA or Cocaine, producing a sense of euphoria and wellbeing, with users becoming more alert, confident and talkative.

What are the side-effects of taking methadrone and legal highs?

Some of the side effects are that users who snort this substance can experience extremely sore nasal passages, throats and mouths, with burns or cuts caused by the chemicals sometimes leading to nose bleeds. On a more severe basis some users report heart palpitations, or an irregular or racing heartbeat, which may last for some time after taking the drugs. Users can experience blurred vision, hot flushes and muscle tension, particularly in the jaw and face, and some people report that their fingers and other extremities have taken on a blue pastiness after using Methadone.

A particular concerning feature of many reports about Methadrone use is that once users have started using the drugs in a particular session, it is very hard to stop, with compulsive use leading to a number of unpleasant side effects including insomnia, involuntary muscle clenching and hallucinations. It seems, regular or heavy use may develop into psychological dependency.