3-MMC and cathinones: effects, risks and harm reduction

What is 3-MMC?

3-MMC (3-methylmethcathinone) belongs to the synthetic cathinones, stimulants classed as “new psychoactive substances”. Along with 4-MEC, 3-MEC and mephedrone, they are the drugs most associated with chemsex in France. They are snorted, bombed (swallowed), taken anally or injected (slamming).

This article doesn’t encourage use: it gives the information published by health services to reduce harm if you do use.

Effects sought

According to Drogues Info Service, cathinones are stimulant, entactogenic and empathogenic: they ease contact, increase empathy and desire, and more or less mimic cocaine, MDMA and amphetamines.

The risks

Drogues Info Service describes:

• rapid addiction, with compulsive urges to redose (“craving”);
• a significant overdose risk with every use, whatever the route;
• heart effects (racing heart, high blood pressure), overheating, dehydration;
• substances that are very corrosive to mucous membranes (nose, anus) and veins; injecting sharply increases the risk of dependence and infections;
• on stopping, significant depressive symptoms that can last several weeks;
• in severe cases, emergency hospitalisation or even death.

Sida Info Plus adds a key point: cathinones are often sold as mixtures of unknown composition. You don’t really know what you’re taking.

Careful with HIV treatment

Drogues Info Service warns that combining cathinones with protease inhibitors (HIV drugs such as ritonavir) carries a risk of fatal overdose. If you live with HIV, talk to your doctor: there are treatments without this interaction (dangerous combinations).

Reducing the risks

Harm-reduction messages shared by AIDES, Sexosafe and Sida Info Plus:

• get your drugs checked (drug-checking services, charities);
• start low, wait for effects, space out doses; write down the times;
• personal equipment: your own straw, your own syringe (free kits from harm-reduction services and AIDES in France), never shared (hepatitis C);
• hydrate, eat, sleep between sessions; keep sugary drinks at hand;
• don’t mix with other drugs, especially GHB and alcohol;
• sexual prevention: PrEP, condoms, lube, gloves;
• never use alone, and call emergency services (15 or 112 in France) for collapse, chest pain, seizures, confusion.

When to ask for help?

If you redose without being able to stop, if the comedown flattens you for days, if you can’t have sex without drugs any more: these are signals. Specialist teams offer non-judgemental support (where to find help). In France, Drogues Info Service: 0 800 23 13 13.