The Conversation | M Kabakou/Shutterstock
Cocaine, amphetamines and MDMA now have to compete with a group of imitators: synthetic cathinones, more commonly called “bath salts”. These are the most popular new stimulants in Europe today, and they are here to stay. Within this family of chemicals, the most popular is mephedrone, which was first sold online in 2007 as a legal alternative to MDMA. Its effects – euphoria, heightened appreciation of music, empathy and light sexual arousal – made it a popular party drug. However, its effects don’t last as long as MDMA, which leads people to take it various times during the same session, increasing the associated risks.