Mephedrone and monkey dust: honest help with synthetic cathinones

Please read this first

Your heart and nervous system. FRANK says synthetic cathinones such as mephedrone speed up your heartbeat and raise blood pressure, which could damage the heart, and can cause fits. People with heart or blood pressure problems, epilepsy or asthma may have a dangerous reaction. Ring 999 for chest pain, a fit or a collapse, and be open with the crew about what was used.

Overheating and water. FRANK warns about overheating and dehydration, especially when dancing for a long time somewhere hot, and advises regular breaks. It also says drinking too much, including water, can be dangerous because it can upset your salt levels.

Monkey dust and mixing. FRANK says some cathinones, such as those in monkey dust, can cause aggressive or violent behaviour, and that products may contain several cathinones or be cut with MDMA or cocaine. Mixing drugs is always risky. If mephedrone is used with G (GHB or GBL), never add alcohol: the clinic 56 Dean Street says that combination raises the chance of “going under”, which is a medical emergency.

While you wait for help. Don’t leave the person on their own. If they’re unconscious but breathing, lay them on their side in the recovery position. If they’re awake and frightened, talk to them quietly rather than shouting or shaking them.

FRANK is confidential and open 24 hours on 0300 123 6600, or text 82111. If you feel low after using and start to feel hopeless or think about ending your life, call Samaritans free on 116 123, any time.

Mephedrone goes by a lot of names: meow meow, M-Cat, MC, drone, bubble. Some people know it from nights out, some from chemsex, and some from the powders sold as monkey dust. Whatever the route in, it can be very hard to put down once you’ve started, and the low that follows can make the next session look tempting.

If you’re here because you’re worried about how much you’re using, or how you feel afterwards, this page sets out the honest risks and where to get help. It covers mephedrone and the wider group of synthetic cathinones, including monkey dust.

What mephedrone and monkey dust are

FRANK describes synthetic cathinones as man-made substances similar to cathinone, a stimulant found naturally in khat. They were first sold as legal alternatives to speed, ecstasy and cocaine, often labelled “not for human consumption” or sold as plant food or bath salts. Mephedrone, also called 4-MMC, is the best known. Monkey dust may contain other cathinones such as MDPHP, MDPV or alpha-PHP.

They’re no longer legal. FRANK says synthetic cathinones are Class B, with up to 5 years in prison for possession and up to 14 years for supply.

Signs mephedrone has become a problem

FRANK says you can become addicted to synthetic cathinones, and that some users find it very difficult to stop until they’ve used their entire supply. Warning signs include:

Taking more than you intended, or needing more for the same effect
Not being able to stop until the bag is empty
Feeling low or depressed after using, which FRANK warns about
Anxiety, paranoia or confusion, during or after
Using on your own, or to get through ordinary days
Money, work or relationships starting to suffer

Cathinones are usually snorted or swallowed, but FRANK warns that injecting, or sharing equipment, can spread blood-borne viruses and damage veins. If you use mephedrone for sex, my chemsex page lists specialist support.

Where to get help for mephedrone in the UK

Your GP. A confidential place to start, especially about your heart, mood or sleep, and they can put you in touch with local drug support.
Local drug services. The NHS says you can approach your local drug service yourself. Find support near you
FRANK. The line is open round the clock on 0300 123 6600, and texts go to 82111, all in confidence. Read FRANK’s guide to synthetic cathinones.
Specialist chemsex services. If mephedrone is part of sex for you, 56 Dean Street, Antidote at London Friend and the LGBT Foundation offer LGBTQ+ focused support.
Support groups. You can find a Narcotics Anonymous meeting near you or online, or ring their helpline on 0300 999 1212 between 10am and midnight. SMART Recovery meetings cost nothing to join.
For family and friends. Adfam works with families affected by drugs, and the Addiction Family Support helpline is 0300 888 3853.

Where hypnotherapy fits

Hypnotherapy is not a treatment for mephedrone addiction, and I don’t offer it as one. Your GP or a drug service, or a chemsex service if that’s where it fits for you, need to be part of your recovery.

Where I can help is alongside that care. When you stop, you’re often left with low mood, restless nights and the same situations that used to end in a bag. Sessions can work on stress, sleep, confidence and the routines and places linked to using, from the Friday message to the after party you always end up at. The changes are yours to make, and sessions are there as extra support while you make them.

Before we work together I’ll ask whether you’re getting support from your GP or a drug service. If I think you need that support first, I’ll tell you honestly.

How to stop using mephedrone: everyday steps

Don’t keep a stash. Since it’s so hard to stop once you’ve started, having none in the house is one of the simplest protections you have.
Know your danger times. Notice when you usually buy or use, and plan something different for those hours.
Expect a dip. FRANK says you may feel low or depressed after using. Knowing that in advance can stop a bad day turning into another session.
Look after your mood. In England you can refer yourself to NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety or low mood.

If mephedrone goes alongside crystal meth or cocaine for you, my pages on crystal meth and cocaine have more support.

Common questions

Is mephedrone addictive?

Yes, it can be. FRANK says you can become addicted to synthetic cathinones, which can mean taking more than you intended or needing more for the same effect. FRANK adds that some users find it very hard to stop once they’ve started.

What is monkey dust?

Monkey dust is a name for powders that FRANK says may contain synthetic cathinones such as MDPHP, MDPV or alpha-PHP. FRANK warns that some types, like those in monkey dust, can cause aggressive or violent behaviour. Like mephedrone, these drugs are Class B.

Why do I feel so low after mephedrone?

FRANK says you may feel low or depressed after using synthetic cathinones. If that low doesn’t lift, or you feel hopeless, please talk to your GP, or call Samaritans on 116 123 at any time.

Is it confidential?

Yes. What you tell me stays between us. As with any therapist, the only exception is if I believed you or someone else were at serious risk of harm.

I’m worried about someone else’s mephedrone use. What can I do?

Families and friends can get help of their own from Adfam and Addiction Family Support. If the person has chest pain, a fit, seems very overheated or is a danger to themselves or others, call 999. The choice to stop sits with them, but support for you is there in the meantime.

Talk it through

If you’re already getting support and want help alongside it, book a £49 consultation call. We’ll talk about what’s been happening and whether sessions would help with what you’re already doing. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you’ll get a recording of the hypnosis afterwards. You can read about how I work.

Book a consultation (£49)

Written by Adam Cox, clinical hypnotherapist. Sources: FRANK, synthetic cathinones; FRANK, what to do in an emergency;FRANK, mephedrone; 56 Dean Street, GHB and GBL; NHS, drug addiction: getting help. Checked October 2026.