Description

3-MMC

3-Methylmethcathinone, also known as 3-MMC and metaphedrone is a designer drug from the substituted cathinone family. 3-MMC is closely related in structure to the more commonly known illicit drug mephedrone (4-MMC), and is also illegal in most countries that have banned mephedrone due to 3-MMC being a structural isomer of 4-MMC. Unlike some synthetic cathinone. 3-MMC has been evaluat in at least one large mammal study. 3-MMC is a monoamine transporter substrate that potently inhibits norepinephrine uptake and displays more pronounced dopaminergic vs. serotonergic activity.

Methods

A prospective multicenter (n = 6) study was conduct between February 2021 and September 2021 in Auvergne-Rhone-Alpe, France. The inclusion criteria were: MMC user over 18 year of age in contact with a community-base organization (CBO) calle AIDES. Consumption was evaluate with an anonymize questionnaire and sample of MMC powder were analyze with a combination of qualitative (GC–MS) and quantitative method (UPLC-MS/MS), to compare the assume and real composition of the product purchase.

Results

We studied 45 samples provided by 33 users. The study population was predominantly male (91%), with a median age of 40 years, most were university graduates and regular users of MMC. Intravenou drug use was reporte by 15.2% of the population. Most of the user bought their 3-MMC online via the Clear Web. Drug test was requeste by 86% of the user, highlight the need for this type of harm reduction strategy. The purity of the 3-MMC powder sample teste range from 21 to 98%. Other NPS drug, such as 4-CEC (4-chloroethcathinone), 4-MMC, and 2-fluorodeschloroketamine (2-FDCK), supplie as methoxphenidine (MXP), were also detecte.

Conclusion

This prospective study shows that 3-MMC purity and dose vary considerably. It also describes the characteristics of MMC users and their expectations of a drug-checking program. Our data suggest that drug-checking services may be useful in this population. Health associations and laboratories should work together to help increase access to such programs

Chemicals

Analytical standard (3-MMC, 4-MMC) and the internal standar (4-MMC-d3, IS) were purchase from LGC Standard (Luckenwalde, Germany). LC–MS-grade acetonitrile was purchase from VWR (Leuven, Belgium). Ultrapure water with a resistivity ≥ 18.0 MΩ.cm was produce with the Milli-Q Plus® system (Millipore, Molsheim, France). Other chemical use were purchase from Carlo Erba reagent (Val-de-Reuil, France) or VWR.