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4-Methylthioamphetamine

4-Methylthioamphetamine is a drug known as 4MT, 4-MTA, "Flatliners" or 1-(4-methylthiophenyl)-2-aminopropane. 4-MTA is currently a Class A drug in the United Kingdom although it has been suggested it be rescheduled as a Class B drug.^[1]

Effects

4-MTA is a stimulant and strong serotonin releaser, similar to paramethoxyamphetamine but even more dangerous, as it can cause pronounced hyperthermia which can result in organ failure and death. The subjective effects of 4-MTA are primarily a long-lasting stimulant, with little positive euphoria, in contrast to MDMA. 4MTA is also a MAO-A inhibitor, which may explain its tendency to cause death, as MAOI drugs are not generally considered safe to use with stimulants or serotonin releasers, and 4-MTA fits into all three categories.

History

It was developed by the research team led by David E. Nichols, but was intended to be used only as an agent for laboratory research into the serotonin transporter protein, and Nichols was reportedly horrified when 4-MTA appeared as a drug of abuse on the street.

4-MTA was briefly sold in smartshops in the Netherlands, though was soon banned by the Dutch government after serious side-effects started to emerge. It was also briefly sold on the black market as MDMA during the late 1990s, mainly in the USA, but proved unpopular due to its high risk of severe side effects (several deaths were reported) and relative lack of positive euphoria.

References

1. ^ ""I think 4MTA, LSD and ecstasy probably shouldn't be Class A," he said." from "Call for ecstasy to be downgraded", BBC News, Wednesday, 22 November 2006, 15:57 GMT

External links

• EMCDDA Report (1999) on the risk assessment of 4-MTA in the framework of the joint action on new synthetic drugs
• Erowid 4-MTA vault (Accessed 10/1/06)
• Ecstasy.org: 4-MTA - info on possible dangers (Accessed 10/1/06)
• Abstract: "Para-methylthioamphetamine, A New Designer Drug of Abuse" (Accessed 10/1/06)