U P P E R S:
Methcathinone
What is it? Also known as Cat, Goob and Jeff, Speed, Bathtub Speed, Mulka, Gagers, gaggers, The C, Wild cat, Wonder star, Cadillac express, and Ephedrone, methcathinone has been around since 1991 when it was created as a cheap substitute for methamphetamine. It's a concoction of battery acid, Drano, and over-the counter asthma medication, and can be manufactured in home kitchens. No, we're not kidding!
Methcathinone is taken in the body several ways. A user can:
- Snort it.
- Drink it (mixed in coffee or soft drinks)
- Ingest it (through intravenous - IV - injection)
- Smoke it (in a crack pipe or added to tobacco or marijuana cigarettes)
How does it make you feel? Short term intoxication feels similar to the high produced by crack cocaine or methamphetamine. There's a feeling of euphoria, well-being, increased alertness and energy that can last for days. Chronic use produces a range of problems typical of addiction to powerful stimulant drugs including: paranoia and delusions, anxiety followed by depression. Following a binge, users sometimes "crash" and experience severe psychological depression.
What does it do to your body? Like other uppers "Cat" is a Central Nervous System stimulant. Short term use can stimulate your heart rate and respiration, cause loss of appetite, and raise your body temperature slightly. Chronic use can lead to elevated blood pressure and heart rate, tremors, convulsions, body aches, anorexia, malnutrition and weight loss, sweating, dehydration, and electrolyte imbalance, stomach pains and nausea. Because Cat is most often snorted, users suffer from nose bleeds and eventual destruction of the nasal tissues and erosion of the nasal septum. Addicts suffer permanent brain damage and exhibit symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease (a nerve disease that causes tremors in fingers and hands).
In extreme cases of Cat abuse, deaths have been reported. These are related to heart failure, lethal overdoses, drug-related violence, and manufacturing accidents.
How easy is it to become "dependent?" Methcathinone is highly addictive, similar to crack cocaine, and some users report developing tolerance and withdrawal symptoms after just one incident of bingeing (six to ten days).
What is an overdose? In extreme cases, deaths have been reported, and are related to heart failure.
What is withdrawal like? Withdrawal is similar to withdrawal from a methamphetamine. Symptoms include lack of energy, depression, anxiety, a general craving for the drug and some have described the experience as a feeling that nothing makes them feel good.
Is it legal? No, it is a felony to possess or
sell it.
