Transcript Bebe Johnson, MPA Advanced ATOD Prevention

Bebe Johnson, MPA
Advanced ATOD Prevention Specialist
Current and Emerging Drug
Trends
Bath Salts
SYNTHETIC COCAINE/MDVP
Methadrone (US)
Mephedrone (UK)
Duration of effects 2-5 hours
Dangerous Bath Salts/Synthetic
Cocaine
What is Synthetic Cocaine?





A synthetic stimulant
Similar characteristics (high) to cocaine, speed
and ecstasy
Similar in chemical structure to Crystal
Methamphetamine
Sold in white powder form
Sold as a plant fertilizer
Synthetic Cocaine/MDPV Timeline
MDPV was developed in the 1960s, and has been
used for the treatment of chronic fatigue, but
caused problems of abuse and dependence.
MDPV Timeline
–
2005: MDPV appears as a recreational drug; first
mention on Drugs-Forum.
–
2008: First seizure of MDPV in the United States.
–
2010: MDPV made a controlled drug in the UK, Sweden,
Germany, Australia and Finland. First reports of the
widespread retail marketing of 'bath salts' containing
MDPV in the US. The US considers both Mephedrone
(July, 2010) and MDPV (December, 2010)
How is it used?




Snorted
Pill form
Smoked
Bomb-wrapped in paper and swallowed
The Effects of MDPV

MDPV is a powerful stimulant that functions as a dopaminenorepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI). It has stimulatory
effects on the central nervous system and cardiovascular
system.

Physical: rapid heartbeat, increase in blood pressure,
vasoconstriction, sweating.
The Effects of MDPV

Mental: euphoria, increases in alertness & awareness, increased
wakefulness and arousal, anxiety, agitation, perception of a
diminished requirement for food and sleep.

MDPV reportedly has four times the potency of Ritalin and Concerta.

The effects have a duration of roughly 3 to 4 hours, with after effects
such as tachycardia, hypertension, and mild stimulation lasting from
6 to 8 hours.

High doses have been observed to cause intense, prolonged panic
attacks in stimulant-intolerant users, and there are anecdotal reports
of psychosis from sleep withdrawal and addiction at higher doses or
more frequent dosing intervals
Names for Synthetic Cocaine/Ecstasy








Methadrone (US)
Mephedrone (UK)
Meow Meow
MCAT
Bubble
M-C
Plant fertilizer
Drone
Bath Salts Illegal in Texas

Governor Rick Perry signed House Bill 2118 into law, which places
several chemicals used to make the drugs into the Texas Controlled
Substances Act. Two of the common active ingredients in “Bath Salts”
are Mephedrone Methylenedioxypyrovalerone, also known as MDPV
(synthetic cocaine)

The penalties for having these “bath Salts” would be a state jail felony
for those who have less than 1 gram,
a second-degree felony for possessing 1 gram to 4 grams, and a firstdegree felony for possessing 4 grams or more, but less than 400
grams.