[size=+1]Third of clubbers who take mephedrone may be addicted, survey finds[/size]
Contrary to the belief that mephedrone is less harmful than drugs like cocaine, many users showed signs of dependence
Nic Fleming
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 10 November 2011 16.24 GMT
Three in 10 clubbers who take the drug mephedrone exhibit symptoms associated with addiction, a study has found. Many users of the banned substance, sometimes called "meow meow", had several signs of dependence, including withdrawal effects, failed attempts to give up, and taking larger and larger doses.
UK Home Office figures published in July found mephedrone ranks joint second with cocaine behind cannabis in popularity among 16- to 24-year-olds, with 4.4% having taken it in the previous 12 months.
"Some have suggested mephedrone has a profile that is less harmful than other substances like cocaine, but our evidence suggests people are going to run into problems associated with dependence that could ruin lives," said Adam Winstock of the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, who led the new study.
Dr Winstock's team interviewed 100 people who had reported mephedrone use in a previous survey carried out in association with the clubbing magazine MixMag.
Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2011/nov/10/third-clubbers-mephedrone-addicted
Contrary to the belief that mephedrone is less harmful than drugs like cocaine, many users showed signs of dependence
Nic Fleming
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 10 November 2011 16.24 GMT
Three in 10 clubbers who take the drug mephedrone exhibit symptoms associated with addiction, a study has found. Many users of the banned substance, sometimes called "meow meow", had several signs of dependence, including withdrawal effects, failed attempts to give up, and taking larger and larger doses.
UK Home Office figures published in July found mephedrone ranks joint second with cocaine behind cannabis in popularity among 16- to 24-year-olds, with 4.4% having taken it in the previous 12 months.
"Some have suggested mephedrone has a profile that is less harmful than other substances like cocaine, but our evidence suggests people are going to run into problems associated with dependence that could ruin lives," said Adam Winstock of the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, who led the new study.
Dr Winstock's team interviewed 100 people who had reported mephedrone use in a previous survey carried out in association with the clubbing magazine MixMag.
Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2011/nov/10/third-clubbers-mephedrone-addicted
