Re: MAPS: Flatliners and Media Hysteria

[Steve Mynott <steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Tue, Jan 05, 1999 at 08:30:36AM +1100, Dan wrote:
> A drug, reportedly 33 times more potent than ecstasy has hit the streets
> here in Australia. It has be dubbed 'flatliners', it comes in a tablet.

Hmmm there was a recent media scare in the UK about a Dutch import
4-methylthioamphetamine (4-MTA), which was being sold as 'flatliners'
and has been associated with deaths.

Best info on this drug is from the London Toxicology Group

http://ramindy.sghms.ac.uk/~ltg/4-mta.htm

(includes mass spectra and gives no colour for Marquis test)

I also believe the same name has been used in the past for
ketamine-type drugs.  Also other new designer drugs that are MDMA
related have been reported in Australia like indaneamphetamine.

> I was wondering what sorts of  dosage levels have been reported with it
> and the function of the drug, namely is it in any way related to the
> MDMA family as is being claimed here in Australia with the 'claims' of
> potency 33 times greater than that of MDMA.

It sounds more like PMA than MDMA and doesn't appear to be be very
interesting, being weak with minor effects only -- 125-250mg doses
would put it at half the strength of MDMA.

The UK reports also mentioned DOB which is probably more than 33 times
stronger than MDMA and very long lasting.

Sounds the media reports got confused.

> Any help would be appreciated as there is a developing media frenzy over
> this and some accurate information would be very useful.

Sounds like the media frenzy has been imported from the UK.

-- 
1024/D9C69DF9 steve mynott steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx http://www.pineal.com/
    
    h. l. mencken's law: those who can -- do.  those who can't -- teach.

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