Project Update
Over the past four months there have been many developments with regards to the increase of the project output, and the dissemination of results.
Now we are in the final stage of the project, the dissemination of the project results to professionals, researchers, networks, and agencies in Europe has become a key focus area. This process has included the hosting of the first International Psychonaut Web Mapping Conference in Ancona, the presentation of project results at various other scientific conferences and meetings, press releases, and publication.
Another core component of the dissemination activities will be to provide professionals, researchers, and organisations with access to the Psychonaut Web Mapping database and technical folders. This will allow us not only to assess how useful the database and technical folders are, but to begin to establish the web monitoring system as a sustainable resource for drug information.
We welcome professionals from a variety of disciplines, backgrounds, and networks to access the site. To register for access, or for any other additional information about the project please refer to the Psychonaut WEB MAPPING website, www.psychonautproject.eu, or you may email us directly at info@psychonautproject.eu.
Regards
Prof. Fabrizio Schifano
Scientific Coordinator
Psychonaut WEB MAPPING Project
Project News
International Psychonaut Web Mapping Conference, Ancona
The first International Psychonaut Web Mapping Conference, in conjunction with Servizio Salute Regione Marche took place in Ancona, Italy on September 18, 2009. The conference was a fantastic opportunity to publicly discuss the preliminary findings of the project; how the activities of the project complement other early warning programmes and web monitoring systems operating at both the national and European level; and other issues within the fields of drugs and the Internet, novel drugs and drug combinations, and the use of ICT tools in prevention.
The Psychonaut Web Mapping project partners presented details of the aims, methodological approaches, and results of the project to date, and information about developing trends such as the recreational misuse of research chemicals, online pharmacies, and the Spice phenomenon. Overviews of the current and future directions of national and European drug early warning systems were given by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), the Italian Dipartmento Politiche Antidroga National Early Warning System (N.E.W.S), and Bergen Clinics Foundation who coordinate the Bergen early warning system in Norway. Further information regarding selective prevention methods and the use of information communication technology in prevention approaches was given, including details of the Addiction Link and Voimapiiri Powercircle programmes operated by A-Clinic in Finland. Lastly, independent researchers working on related projects in the field, Dr Martin Schmidt from St George's University of London who has conducted research into legal highs in the UK, and Dr Jeshoor Jebadurai from the University of Hertfordshire who has been researching Internet related drug forums presented some interesting results.
Further details about the conference speakers are available in the conference programme. Proceedings of the conference are currently available to registered members of the Psychonaut Web Mapping websiteand database only.
Mephedrone
The recreational misuse of so-called 'research chemicals' is receiving increased attention across Europe, particularly with regards to the stimulant research chemical and cathinone analogue Mephedrone (4-methylmethcathinone; 4-MMC; MMCAT). Mephedrone has a relatively short history of human consumption. It was first identified by the Psychonaut Web Mapping project in late 2008 (paper in preparation), and forum chatter suggests Mephedrone only became available in or after 2007.
Mephedrone is already a controlled substance in Sweden, however, elsewhere the compound is widely available to purchase online under a number of brand names as 'plant feeder', 'bath salts', or 'not for human consumption' to avoid legislation controlling the sale of medicinal products.
Mephedrone is typically ingested orally or insufflated. Psychiatrists in the UK have already warned of the dangers of Mephedrone (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2009). It is associated with a number serious negative side effects, including elevated heart rate, hallucinations, vasoconstriction, increased anxiety, and possible psychosis, and has already been linked to fatalities in the UK and Europe. As yet there have been no published clinical or animal studies into the pharmacological or toxicological effects of Mephedrone, despite it being a highly addictive and an increasingly popular legal substitute for cocaine and ecstasy.