What is Monkey Dust

The Law

How you might feel

Cathinone is a Class B drug but there are are discussions to increase this to a class A

Cathinones can cause feelings of euphoria and empathy as well as increasing alertness and talkativeness.

How long the effects last

The chemical, cathinone, is a naturally occurring stimulant drug found in the plant, khatAlso known as Butylone, M1, Magic Crystals, Mdpv, Methylone and Pyrovalerone

How long the effects last and the drug stays in your system depends on how much you’ve taken, your size and what other drugs you may have also taken

Monkey Dust

Additction

Most cathinones are found as either a fine white, off-white or yellowish powder, but some can be brown in colour. Mephedrone is a synthetic cathinone.

How do people take it

Common Risks

Cathinones are usually snorted like cocaine or wrapped in paper and swallowed (‘bombed’). They can also be found as capsules and pills and can be smoked

Should you ever need to help someone who’s having a bad reaction, here’s what you need to know:

If they are unconscious or having difficulty breathing you should:

If they are really drowsy you should:

If they are anxious, tense or panicky you should:

The first things you should do are:

• Immediately phone for an ambulance
• Place them into the recovery position
• Stay with them until the ambulance arrives
• If you know what drug they’ve taken tell the ambulance crew immediately, it might them get the right treatment faster

• sit them in a quiet place and keep them awake
• if they don’t respond or become unconscious call an ambulance immediately and place them in the recovery position
• don’t scare them, shout at them or shock them
• don’t give them coffee to wake them up
• don’t put them in a cold bath to “wake them up” – this wastes time and there’s a risk of drowning

• stay calm
• calm them and be reassuring - don’t scare them or chase after them
• try to find out what they’ve taken
• stay with them

• sit them in a quiet and calm room
• keep them away from crowds, bright lights and loud noises
• tell them to take slow deep breaths
• stay with them

If you're with someone who needs medical help, call an ambulance and tell the crew everything you know about the drugs taken, it could save their life. If you have any drugs left, hand them over to the crew as it may help.

Cathinones were originally sold over the internet as ‘legal’ alternative to drugs like speed, ecstasy and cocaine. To avoid trouble with the police, sellers marked the cathinones they were selling as not for human consumption, and sold them as plant food or bath salts. Cathinones are usually snorted like cocaine or wrapped in paper and swallowed (‘bombed’). They can also be found as capsules and pills and can be smoked. In rare cases, cathinones have been injected. Injecting, or sharing injecting paraphernalia, runs the risk of the person injecting catching or spreading a blood-borne virus, such as HIV or hepatitis C. There is also the risk that veins may be damaged and an abscess or clot may develop.