THE LAW CONTACT INFORMATION Novel Psychoacve Substances (NPS) are If you would like support controlled substances under the Misuse of around your substance HMP BRISTOL Drugs Act (1971). use, please complete a Substance Misuse Team Mephedrone is a Class B drug, which means self-referral form and it is illegal to possess, sell or give away. return to Health Care. Possession can result in prosecuon and up PALS to a five year prison sentence or an unlimited fine. To make a comment, raise a concern Mephedrone or make a complaint, please contact the Trust’s Paent Advice and Liaison Supplying someone else, even your friends, Service (PALS). can result in a prison sentence of up to 14 Know the effects years or an unlimited fine. Tel: 01249 468261 Freephone: 0800 073 1778 Email: [email protected] Being convicted of a drug‐related offence could have a serious impact on your future. This could affect the types of jobs you apply for and stop you from entering certain OTHER FORMATS OR countries. LANGUAGES If you need this informaon in other formats (such as large print, Braille) or in another language, please call PALS Lead: Chris Eade Leaflet code: 326 Approval date: Aug 2014 Review due: Aug 2017 WHAT IS MEPHEDRONE EFFECTS THE RISKS Mephedrone is also known as The effects of mephedrone can vary and All drugs pose a risk of dependency and meow meow, meph, m‐cat and miaow can affect people differently. It is never can cause short and long‐term damage certain what effect it will have on the user. to your health. Mephedrone is a powerful smulant and is Reported effects include heart palpitaons, Mephedrone use can lead to psychological part of a group of drugs which are closely insomnia, loss of short‐term memory, vergo dependence. Regular users may experience related to amphetamines, like speed and (a form of dizziness), grinding of teeth, cravings and the need to take increasing ecstasy. sweang and uncomfortable changes in body amounts. temperature. Mephedrone can be a fine white, off‐white Many white powders may be sold as popular or a yellowish powder. Blurred vision and muscle tension in the face drugs such as mephedrone and MDMA, but contain more harmful substances. It was originally sold over the internet as a and jaw are likely. ‘legal’ alternave to drugs like speed, Mephedrone can also make users feel Research suggests that, on average, ecstasy and cocaine. paranoid and anxious, and can cause voming mephedrone is 50% pure, being mixed or To get around the law, dealers said that the and headaches. cut with other substances, such as caffeine, monosodium glutamate (normally used as mephedrone they were selling was plant It can over‐smulate the nervous system, a flavour enhancer) and benzocaine (a local food or a bath salt and not for human causing hallucinaons, feelings of agitaon anaesthec which can produce a ‘numbing’ consumpon. and even fits. It can also raise blood pressure, effect). In some cases, the powder contains which can lead to heart problems and strokes. no mephedrone at all. Mephedrone causes stress to the heart, so could bring on a heart aack. It has a parcularly bad ‘come down’ and studies have shown an increased rate of suicide in the ‘come down’ period. You can never be certain Aer effects can include low mood, feeling what you are taking. dizzy, redness and mood swings. .