Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 6, 2026

High-throughput and Comprehensive Drug Surveillance Using Multisegment Injection-Capillary Electrophoresis-Mass Spectrometry
Published on: April 23, 2019
Is there any difference in patterns of use and psychiatric symptom status between injectors and non-injectors of
Máté Kapitány-Fövény1,2,3,4, Barbara Mervó1,2, Máté Kertész1
1Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
Objective:
In recent years, increasing intravenous mephedrone use was reported in several countries. The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of such a form of mephedrone use, while identifying the differences between injectors and non-injectors in patterns of mephedrone use and psychiatric symptom status.
Methods:
One hundred and forty-five mephedrone users were surveyed on patterns of mephedrone use using a structured questionnaire as well as the Brief Symptom Inventory.
Results:
Majority of users received mephedrone from acquaintances and used it in discos/parties settings regarding both first and current mephedrone use. Intranasal use was the most typical route of administration (84.4%). Injectors (11%) used the drug more frequently and in higher dosages. This group included a greater proportion of opiate users (37.5%) and showed more diffuse psychiatric symptoms. Regarding the predictors of being an injector, heroin use showed the highest odds ratio.
Conclusions:
Intravenous mephedrone use is associated with a higher risk of harmful drug use, elevated psychiatric symptom profile and increased possibility of mephedrone being considered as an addictive substance. These findings might be important in efficient treatment planning.
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