3-MMC

3-MMC (3-methylmethcathinone, also called metaphedrone) is a synthetic cathinone stimulant and a close chemical relative of mephedrone (4-MMC), differing only in the position of one methyl group on the molecule. It emerged on the European drug market around 2012, largely as a replacement for mephedrone after that drug was banned, and its use grew in the following years. It is usually found as a powder or in tablets, capsules, or occasionally liquids, and is typically swallowed or snorted; it is also used in "chemsex" settings, sometimes by injection. It has been assessed at the European level and brought under control across the EU.

Like its relative mephedrone, 3-MMC acts on the brain's monoamine systems: laboratory studies indicate it inhibits the reuptake of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, raising their levels in the brain. Its overall profile is described as more amphetamine-like than MDMA-like — that is, weighted toward dopamine-driven stimulation more than serotonin-driven empathy — which, combined with its short duration of action, helps explain the strong drive to redose that users and regulators have flagged. A first-in-human study of low-to-moderate doses (25-100 mg) found dose-dependent rises in heart rate and blood pressure and a subjective "high," consistent with a stimulant structurally related to amphetamine.

3-MMC produces stimulant effects — increased energy, alertness, euphoria, talkativeness, and sociability — along with mild feelings of closeness, giving it a milder empathogenic edge on top of a mainly amphetamine-like profile. Onset is fairly rapid and the effects are short-lived, which strongly encourages repeated dosing within a session. Common unwanted effects include raised heart rate and blood pressure, jaw clenching, restlessness, reduced appetite, and difficulty sleeping.

The clearest risks with 3-MMC are compulsive redosing and dependence: its short duration and strong dopamine action drive bingeing, which regulators specifically flagged as a concern. The European risk assessment reviewed cases of acute poisoning, several of them life-threatening, and its acute toxicity and abuse potential are considered comparable to other controlled synthetic cathinones. Heavy use is associated with anxiety, paranoia, and psychosis. Most reported deaths involved 3-MMC together with other drugs. Use in chemsex or "slamsex" settings adds further risks: overdose via injection, injection-site infections, and increased exposure to blood-borne viruses such as HIV and hepatitis C. As with other cathinone powders, contents and strength vary between samples.