Curiosity killed M-Cat: A post-legislative study on mephedrone use in Ireland

Abstract

Mephedrone (4-methylmethcathinone) is a synthetic ‘amphetamine-type stimulant’ (ATS) derived from the Khat plant and collectively known as ‘M-Cats’. Research has indicated the presence of strong displacement patterns in post-legislative timeframes with mephedrone incurred positive effects stimulating user preferences over amphetamine, MDMA and cocaine. The aim of this research was to investigate post-legislative mephedrone consumerist patterns and the presence of (any) incurred displacement patterns, as follow-up to an earlier study on pre-legislative mephedrone use in the Republic of Ireland (Van Hout & Brennan, 2011c. Plantfood for thought: A qualitative study of mephedrone use in Ireland. Drugs Education Prevention and Policy. 1–11. Advance online publication.). A total of 22 in-depth interviews were undertaken with findings indicative of the relative influence of macro- and micro-level club drug markets in determining the continuation of mephedrone use. ‘Temporary displacement’ patterns between mephedrone and club stimulant drugs were observed with 10 users reporting continued use and the remainder reverting back to ‘old favourites’. This was based on user emergent negative psychostimulant experiences with mephedrone, concerns for product contamination and improved quality of club stimulants at that time. The synthetic drug market remains of concern, given the recent evidence for ‘blended’ club drugs using mephedrone, and with the need for continued monitoring on the impact of legislation on drug consumptive patterns and outcomes.