Appearance of 2-MMC and 3-MMC on the illicit drug market in the Netherlands: A systematic narrative review of the prevalence and risks

IF 4.4 2区医学 Q1 SUBSTANCE ABUSE

International Journal of Drug Policy Pub Date : 2025-08-27 DOI:10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.104971

Jan van Amsterdam , Ton Nabben , Wim van den Brink

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background and Aims

Use of the synthetic methylmethcathinones 2-MMC and 3-MMC (2/3-MMC) is emerging, especially among young people, but their health risks remain unclear.

Method

A systematic narrative review was conducted on studies describing the availability, pharmaco-toxicological profile, and user characteristics of 2/3-MMC, with a focus on the situation in The Netherlands.

Results

Among nightlife youth (16–35 yrs.) in The Netherlands, reported past-year 3-MMC use increased almost four-fold within two years,and in 2022 became the third most commonly used substance (33.7 %), after cannabis and MDMA. 2/3-MMC appears to have a pharmaco-toxicological profile similar to 4-MMC (mephedrone), with similar dopaminergic but less serotonergic activity. Their shorter duration of action may lead to increased craving and more frequent re-dosing compared to 4-MMC. Low price, high availability and positive recommendations on social media have attracted (very) young (aged 14–17), who are often particularly vulnerable. Despite a legal ban on 3-MMC in 2021, the number of individuals seeking treatment for problematic 3-MMC use in the Netherlands rose from 33 in 2021 to 330 in 2023. Most cases involved polydrug users.

Conclusions

In general, 2/3-MMC appear to be less toxic and harmful than other illicit substances though their use may result in more craving, more frequent re-dosing and, thus, to more dependence than 4-MMC. The number of treatment seeking problematic 3-MMC users is increasing. Drug regulation may help prevent a further rise in 2/3-MMC use, although a shift to other cathinones cannot be ruled out. Mental health organisations should therefore remain vigilant to monitor problematic 2/3-MMC use, especially among vulnerable (very) young users.

查看原文本刊更多论文

2-MMC和3-MMC在荷兰非法药物市场上的出现：对其流行程度和风险的系统叙述审查

背景和目的合成甲基甲卡西酮2-MMC和3-MMC （2/3-MMC）的使用正在兴起，尤其是在年轻人中，但其健康风险尚不清楚。方法对2/3-MMC的可得性、药理学特征和使用者特征的研究进行系统的叙述性回顾，重点是荷兰的情况。结果在荷兰的夜生活青年（16-35岁）中，过去一年的3-MMC使用量在两年内增加了近四倍，在2022年成为仅次于大麻和MDMA的第三大常用物质（33.7%）。2/3-MMC似乎与4-MMC（甲氧麻黄酮）具有相似的药物毒理学特征，具有相似的多巴胺能，但血清素能活性较低。与4-MMC相比，它们的作用时间较短，可能导致渴望增加和更频繁的重新给药。低廉的价格、高可用性和社交媒体上的积极推荐吸引了（非常）年轻（14-17岁），他们往往特别容易受到伤害。尽管2021年法律禁止使用3-MMC，但在荷兰，因使用3-MMC而寻求治疗的人数从2021年的33人增加到2023年的330人。大多数病例涉及多种药物使用者。结论总的来说，2/3-MMC的毒性和危害性比其他违禁药物要小，但其使用可能导致比4-MMC更强烈的渴望，更频繁的重新给药，从而产生更大的依赖性。寻求有问题的3-MMC使用者治疗的人数正在增加。药物管制可能有助于防止2/3-MMC使用量的进一步上升，尽管不能排除转向其他卡西酮的可能性。因此，精神卫生组织应保持警惕，监测有问题的2/3-MMC使用情况，特别是在脆弱（非常）年轻的使用者中。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

International Journal of Drug Policy SUBSTANCE ABUSE-

CiteScore

7.80

自引率

11.40%

发文量

307

审稿时长

62 days

期刊介绍： The International Journal of Drug Policy provides a forum for the dissemination of current research, reviews, debate, and critical analysis on drug use and drug policy in a global context. It seeks to publish material on the social, political, legal, and health contexts of psychoactive substance use, both licit and illicit. The journal is particularly concerned to explore the effects of drug policy and practice on drug-using behaviour and its health and social consequences. It is the policy of the journal to represent a wide range of material on drug-related matters from around the world.