4-MEC is reported to have been used as the active ingredient in fake "Ecstasy" pills in some countries such as New Zealand.[6]
Recreational use
Some users have injected the drug intravenously. It requires heating the water/4-MEC solution in order for 4-MEC to dissolve. Injecting 4-MEC appears to be rough on veins and is sometimes accompanied by a burning sensation. Therefore, 4-MEC should be diluted as much as possible. Intravenous dosages are comparable to oral ones, although more care should be given to safety (with regard to possibility of overdose and long-term effects).[7][8]
Legality
In the United States 4-MEC is a schedule 1 controlled substance.[9]
^Helfer AG, Turcant A, Boels D, Ferec S, Lelièvre B, Welter J, et al. (May 2015). "Elucidation of the metabolites of the novel psychoactive substance 4-methyl-N-ethyl-cathinone (4-MEC) in human urine and pooled liver microsomes by GC-MS and LC-HR-MS/MS techniques and of its detectability by GC-MS or LC-MS(n) standard screening approaches". Drug Testing and Analysis. 7 (5): 368–75. doi:10.1002/dta.1682. PMID24953431.
^Brandt SD, Sumnall HR, Measham F, Cole J (July 2010). "Second generation mephedrone. The confusing case of NRG-1". BMJ. 341: c3564. doi:10.1136/bmj.c3564. PMID20605894. S2CID20354123.
^Brandt SD, Sumnall HR, Measham F, Cole J (August 2010). "Analyses of second-generation 'legal highs' in the UK: initial findings". Drug Testing and Analysis. 2 (8): 377–82. CiteSeerX10.1.1.667.4728. doi:10.1002/dta.155. PMID20687197.
^Jankovics P, Váradi A, Tölgyesi L, Lohner S, Németh-Palotás J, Koszegi-Szalai H (July 2011). "Identification and characterization of the new designer drug 4'-methylethcathinone (4-MEC) and elaboration of a novel liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) screening method for seven different methcathinone analogs". Forensic Science International. 210 (1–3): 213–20. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2011.03.019. PMID21498012.