Mephedrone, which goes by the street name M-Cat or meow meow, has finally been brought under the purview of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
Mephedrone, which goes by the street name M-Cat or meow meow, has finally been brought under the purview of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
Cheap, easy to procure
M-Cat has been an easy drug to procure, say experts. It is cheaper than cocaine and other high-end party drugs and is an easily available chemical formulation, or an analog, belonging to the amphetamine and cathinone family.
It is manufactured in India and China, and is marketed as plant feed or bath salts on the Internet, said Dr Yusuf Merchant, a city-based psychiatrist who had filed a PIL to push authorities to crack down on the drug.
More female users than male
While for every hundred males, one female would abuse heroin and for every 20 males, one female would abuse cocaine, more females are getting high on M-Cat than ever. “For every three males I see that use M-Cat, one female uses the drug. At this rate, risk of transmitting diseases like HIV/AIDS is rampant,” warned Dr Merchant.
Many of the addicts are kids
The addicts, who are as young as 14, order the products online. They order those varieties under which it is mentioned that the product is not fit for human consumption, thus posing a danger to their health. Estimates suggest that 30,000 persons including children may be addicted to M-Cat in Mumbai.
Aryan Kumar (name changed), a 14-year-old from an affluent Gujarati family in South Mumbai, was rushed by his parents to the doctor after his nose was continuously bleeding. “This is a typical side effect of consuming M-Cat. He had been on the drug for the past two months, but his family hadn't a clue,” said Dr Merchant.
Aryan had consumed up to 75 grams of M-Cat powder in three days flat along with a friend, and later stayed awake for up to a week, hallucinating and aggressive. “He would hit an extreme low as the cycles of highs and lows occur within a short time, and to avoid it, he would sniff the drug yet again,” said Dr Merchant.
M-Cat already banned in 53 countries
Up to 53 countries have banned M-Cat since it started making waves in the party circuit. Israel was the first to ban it in 2008, followed by the UK in 2010 and the US in 2011.
“M-Cat and crystal meth have taken over weed and cocaine. The usage has reached epidemic proportions in Mumbai,” said Dr Harish Shetty, city-based senior psychiatrist. Dr Shetty sees close to hundred patients every month who suffer from drug addiction: they abuse weed, cocaine, ecstasy, crystal meth and M-cat. “Of these, 20% of patients are on M-Cat alone. Their age ranges between 14 and 40 years,” Dr Shetty said. I
Addict becomes impulsive, aggressive
It is dangerous to drive under the influence of M-Cat. “It gives an instant rush, and makes a person impulsive, aggressive and hyperactive. The risk of driving rashly or meeting with an accident is worse than that under the influence of alcohol,” he said.
After four hours, traces of M-Cat will disappear from the blood and urine. No amount of tests will be able to ascertain if the addict consumed M-Cat. Therefore, doctors suggest that parents or family members should look out for signs to know if their dear ones are abusing M-Cat.
The following symptoms are associated with M-Cat:
Sweat and clothes smell of cat urine or rotten vegetables
Bleeding from the nose
Insomnia, addict may not sleep for a week at a stretch
Grinding teeth (bruxism)
Toes, finger nails as well as lips may turn blue
Paranoid, hyperactive, impulsive or aggressive behaviour
M-Cat gives a high in 20 minutes and a downer in the next 20 minutes
The heart rate which is normally 60-80 times a minute, can increase to 250 times
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