Synthetic cathinones
A.K.A: Bath salts, Eutylone, Flakka (Alpha-PVP), M-Cat (Mephedrone), Monkey Dust (MDPV)
Synthetic Cathinones are a large group of drugs that mimic the effects of the khat plant. They are stimulant drugs, meaning they speed up your brain and body functions.
They are often mis-sold as other drugs such as MDMA, as they can have some similar effects, but are generally active at lower dose and are more unpredictable and unpleasant.
Synthetic Cathinones can make you feel alert, energetic, and confident. They can also make you feel anxious, nauseous, jittery, and feverish. In higher doses, Synthetic Cathinones can put lots of strain on your body, especially your heart.
Caution
In New Zealand some substances being sold as MDMA are actually synthetic cathinones. Synthetic cathinones can have unpleasant and unpredictable effects. Some of these such as alpha-PVP are particularly dangerous.
How to be safer when using
- Start with a lower amount because it’s hard to predict what effects you’ll have.
- If swallowing, wait an hour for the effects to kick in before deciding to take more.
- Use drug checking services to make sure you know what you have.
Related data
Related articles
Report: What we saw at drug checking in 2025
Key insights from our drug checking services in 2025.
Charting fifty years of failure
50 years after it was passed into law, journalist Russell Brown plots a potted history of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975
Report shows concerning signals in overdose trends
New data shows a concerning increase in deaths and hospitalisations from stimulant drugs like methamphetamine and cocaine amid a recent surge in consumption.