The Psychiatric Characteristics of People on a Mephedrone (“bath salts”) Binge

Abstract

Background: Despite solutions presented by the European Union and national regulations introduced by many countries, the problem of mephedrone (4-MMC) is growing. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of regular mephedrone intake with other psychoactive substances on the clinical picture of patients, including self-harms and suicide attempts. Methods: The study involved a group of 601 patients addicted to mephedrone who were admitted to a psychiatric hospital between 2010 and 2018 due to regular mephedrone intake. Results: There was a statistically significant relationship between sleep disorders and mephedrone combined with alcohol (p < .05) or cannabinols (p < .05). However, the highest number of statistically significant correlations was reported when mephedrone was combined with opioids. There was a growing year-on-year percentage of people who attempted suicide because of regular mephedrone intake (p < .001). The more psychoactive substances were combined with mephedrone, the greater the risk of attempted suicide (p < .01). 20% of the examined group were hospitalized several times. Among those hospitalized several times, significantly more people took more than one additional psychoactive substance (p < .01). Conclusions: The more psychoactive substances combined with mephedrone, the more clinical symptoms are associated with it.

Keywords:

• Mephedrone
• new psychoactive substances

Acknowledgements

Special acknowledgements for making this research possible to Tadeusz Nasierowski, MD, PhD.

Authors’ contribution

Design and data collection: MO, TN

Analysis and interpretation: MO

Drafting the manuscript: MO, TN, MBZ

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.