Maltese health authorities have been alerted to the presence on the market of a new party drug, colloquially referred to as ‘Meow Meow’, which can be purchased legally over the Internet under the guise of plant fertilizer.
Its technical name is 4-methylmethcanthinone, though it is more commonly referred to as Mephedrone. When prepared for consumption it usually takes the form of capsules or a white powder resembling cocaine.
Likewise it is also a form of artificial stimulant, but unlike ecstasy (which it rivals as an ‘alternative high’) it has not yet been scheduled by the authorities.
Medical experts decscribe its effect as inducing a state of euphoria, alertness and talkativeness. Side effects may include nosebleeds, respiratory problems, convulsions, depression and symptoms of psychosis.
New on the international market, the drug has only been regulated in a limited number of countries. This number is however expected to grow in the coming months, as country notifications pour into the joint network of shared information for the early detection of psychotropic substances.
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