Mephedrone and other designer drugs have applications that extend to many classes of drugs of abuse. The “bath salts” are frequently taken with other drugs to include alcohol, cannabis, MDMA, methamphetamine, and the “bath salts” substances methylone and MDPV. Many of the drugs coabused with mephedrone are known to cause damage to the brain (e.g., alcohol) so the medical, law enforcement, and societal problems associated with mephedrone intoxication extend well beyond its properties as a drug of abuse.
Research reviewed in this chapter shows an alarming and potentially very dangerous element of mephedrone action that has not been appreciated before now. Mephedrone, while causing little if any damage to the brain itself, can powerfully enhance the neurotoxicity associated with methamphetamine, amphetamine, and MDMA.
It is also very highly likely that methylone and butylone, which interact with the DAT in the same manner as mephedrone (i.e., they are substrates for uptake and they cause DA release) can enhance the neurotoxicity of at least methamphetamine and MDMA. It remains to be seen if mephedrone will potentiate the neurotoxicity associated with alcohol abuse.
Chronic changes in the function of the DA nerve ending resulting from coabuse of mephedrone and neurotoxins like methamphetamine could uncover a large number of related behavioral problems that would not emerge after abuse of mephedrone alone. Therefore, concerns over abuse of mephedrone extend to alcohol and stimulant addiction and misuse and raise the alarming possibility these drug combinations will result in irreversible toxicity to the brain.
Mephedrone and other designer drugs have applications that extend to many classes of drugs of abuse. The “bath salts” are frequently taken with other drugs to include alcohol, cannabis, MDMA, methamphetamine, and the “bath salts” substances methylone and MDPV. Many of the drugs coabused with mephedrone are known to cause damage to the brain (e.g., alcohol) so the medical, law enforcement, and societal problems associated with mephedrone intoxication extend well beyond its properties as a drug of abuse.
Research reviewed in this chapter shows an alarming and potentially very dangerous element of mephedrone action that has not been appreciated before now. Mephedrone, while causing little if any damage to the brain itself, can powerfully enhance the neurotoxicity associated with methamphetamine, amphetamine, and MDMA.
It is also very highly likely that methylone and butylone, which interact with the DAT in the same manner as mephedrone (i.e., they are substrates for uptake and they cause DA release) can enhance the neurotoxicity of at least methamphetamine and MDMA. It remains to be seen if mephedrone will potentiate the neurotoxicity associated with alcohol abuse.
Chronic changes in the function of the DA nerve ending resulting from coabuse of mephedrone and neurotoxins like methamphetamine could uncover a large number of related behavioral problems that would not emerge after abuse of mephedrone alone. Therefore, concerns over abuse of mephedrone extend to alcohol and stimulant addiction and misuse and raise the alarming possibility these drug combinations will result in irreversible toxicity to the brain.
