title: Is there any difference in patterns of use and psychiatric symptom status between injectors and non-injectors of mephedrone?
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.|Doctoral School of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.|Nyírő Gyula Hospital Drug Outpatient and Prevention Center, Budapest, Hungary.|Faculty of Health Sciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Máté
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kapitány-Fövény
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.|Doctoral School of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mervó
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Máté
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kertész
authors.affiliation: School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK.
authors.forename: Ornella
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Corazza
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.|Doctoral School of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.|Nyírő Gyula Hospital Drug Outpatient and Prevention Center, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Judit
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Farkas
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Gyöngyi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kökönyei
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Róbert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Urbán
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Zsolt
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Demetrovics
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004333:Drug Administration Routes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011427:Propiophenones / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000633:toxicity; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012044:Regression Analysis; D057566:Self Report; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011427:Propiophenones; C558328:4-methoxymethcathinone
keywords: 4-methylmethcathinone; injecting; mephedrone; patterns of use; psychiatric symptoms