Monkey dust [1] is an increasingly popular stimulant drug that goes by so many street names that it’s impossible to keep up.
Known as “magic”, “zombie salts”, or “bath salts”, these humorous-sounding nicknames can lead you to think that this drug is innocent, or at least not as bad as its well-known class-A cousins.
Unlike cosmetic bath salts that are added to water and smell good, this drug was produced as a legal substitute for cocaine, ecstasy (MDMA) and amphetamines.
It only resembles traditional bath salts, purchased in bags of white or yellowish powder, granules or hard crystals.
Users can choose how they purchase the drug, and it’s easily found on the streets or online using the dark web.
Monkey dust goes by the scientific name of MDPV, or methylenedioxypyrovalerone, a stimulant drug similar to cathinone.
Cathinone is a type of naturally occurring stimulant found in the Khat plant and has been popular for centuries in societies across the world.
While not the same as its naturally occurring counterpart, monkey dust is a New Psychoactive Substance (NPS) that mimics cathinone. [2]
However, it produces much more potent effects that are similar to ecstasy and other “upper” drugs.
Despite being labelled as a “New” substance, monkey dust has been causing havoc on the drug market since the mid-2000s.
However, it is still relatively novel in the world of scientific research, and so only a little is known about the long-term impacts of monkey dust.
A synthetic stimulant like monkey dust is chemically similar to amphetamine drugs, providing users with a powerful rush of energy.
These man-made derivatives of the cathinone substance are worryingly common, and monkey dust is just one of many currently on the market.
Because popular drugs such as cocaine are becoming harder for people to access, manufacturers must create new drugs to avoid regulation.
By creating a synthetic stimulant like monkey dust, they can stay on top of drug-taking trends while avoiding detection.
The main concern regarding synthetic stimulant production is that it’s hard to know what’s in any given batch.
To save money and make the substance go further, money dust is usually cut with other powder-like substances, just like cocaine often is.
This can range from flour or sugar to extremely dangerous substances like laundry detergent.
This can work the other way too, with many manufacturers adding monkey dust to more expensive drugs such as MDMA.
Recently, both the US and the UK have grappled with a surge in monkey dust popularity. [3]
It may seem surprising that synthetic versions of existing drugs have taken society by storm, but there are various socio-economic reasons behind this trend.
One reason monkey dust in particular is becoming so popular – especially among young people, – is that it heightens intoxication.
Many users report intense highs after taking monkey dust that rival or exceed MDMA.
This euphoria is often combined with a sense of invincibility and confidence, which is popular in a party setting but can lead to reckless behaviour.
Not only is monkey dust potent, but it’s also accessible.
The drug appeals to younger people in a digital age by being available online.
Nowadays, those looking to buy monkey dust for a party or to fuel a dependency need only look on the black market.
Buying such a potent drug easily via online channels makes it more appealing to potential users, who may be put off similar drugs because they’re too hard to obtain.
Compared to similar drugs, monkey dust is also inexpensive, reportedly sold for around £20 per gram or just £2 for one hit. [4]
When purchased on the street, this synthetic stimulant is a cost-effective option for those on a tight budget.
The low price also draws a younger crowd of recreational, experimental users. University students, who typically have less money than adults, are more likely to buy monkey dust to experiment with friends.
It is cheaper, seems like a lower risk, and doesn’t carry the accessibility restrictions of cocaine or other party drugs.
As a relatively new drug, the laws against monkey dust are subject to change, especially in light of recent studies and harrowing cases.
Under current laws, monkey dust is an illegal Class B drug, and has been since 2016.
Banned as a Class B drug means anyone caught in possession of monkey dust will receive a hefty fine.
If they have enough on their person to warrant supply intent, they can face jail time of up to 14 years.
Driving while high on monkey dust is also considered illegal. If you’re caught behind the wheel while intoxicated, you can face a driving ban, a heavy fine, or imprisonment.
However, pleas have been made by authorities and frustrated UK residents to re-classify the drug. [5]
Due to the harm this substance is causing in the town of Stoke on Trent, their MP has petitioned the government to make monkey dust a Class A classification, alongside cocaine.
These tougher penalties will change the way those caught with monkey dust are charged.
For example, possession would carry a more severe punishment of up to 7 days in prison, while monkey dust suppliers could face a life sentence.
Originally sold on the internet as a legal alternative to illicit street drugs, monkey dust was purchased under the guise of being plant food or bath salts.
Arriving in powder form, users are free to take the cathinone in whichever way they wish.
The more popular way to consume monkey dust is snorting, as this allows the drug to enter the bloodstream faster and produce a more intense high.
It can also be wrapped in paper and swallowed, or encased in capsules.
Monkey dust can also be injected, which is the most dangerous mode of consumption.
The act of using a needle can cause damage to the veins which can lead to serious circulatory issues or abscesses.
What’s more, sharing injecting paraphernalia carries a risk of catching blood-borne viruses such as HIV or Hepatitis.
Synthetic cathinones [6] such as monkey dust are worryingly popular here in the UK.
Since the pandemic, they have continued to ruin lives, families and neighbourhoods across the country.
Drug charities and local authorities also worry about the accessibility of monkey dust, and how rapidly it’s being produced in labs.
In general, cathinones cause side effects that mirror amphetamines such as MDMA or speed, meaning its side effects are easy to predict.
Monkey dust may cause feelings of empathy, euphoria and talkativeness.
In the early phase of monkey dust high, users report feeling high-energy, alert, and generally happier. Physically, they’ll have enlarged pupils, sweat more than usual, and may appear restless or unable to stay still.
These effects are similar to “uppers” and are the reason monkey dust is such a popular party substance. [7]
However, taking monkey dust involves both long-term and short-term risks.
While users may experience the positive effects of an amphetamine high, they can quickly become overstimulated.
Cathinone use can cause unpredictable chemical effects, which often include hallucinations, rapid heartbeat, and the risk of fits from an overworked central nervous system.
Users report heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and profuse sweating alongside psychological side effects.
Mentally, it’s common for monkey dust users to feel paranoid, irritable and untouchable.
Irritability can soon lead to aggression and violent behaviour, which can be especially dangerous when experiencing hallucinations.
Understanding what monkey dust is means pinning down what it isn’t and separating the fact from the fiction.
From rumours of superhuman strength to tabloid articles claiming cannibalism, monkey dust has been subject to a fair amount of hyperbole.
These are the most prominent debunkable myths surrounding monkey dust: [8]
Just because some of the more dramatic claims surrounding monkey dust can be debunked, this doesn’t mean that the drug isn’t incredibly dangerous. [10]
When taken frequently, this drug has the power to destroy lives and leave people feeling completely helpless.
One of the more immediate risks [11] of monkey dust is the threat of overdose, which can result in long-term health problems or death.
Worryingly, the potential for lethal overdose is higher than similar drugs, mainly because this substance is incredibly potent.
It’s easy to misjudge a dose, and a small amount can have life-threatening effects.
Because there is a lack of public knowledge surrounding monkey dust and its potency, people are more likely to take more than they need which increases the overdose risk.
As the effects of one dose start to dampen, users are often tempted to take another capsule or snort another line.
Before they know it, the effects of both doses have compounded and created a fatal situation.
Warning signs of an overdose include:
The affected person may slip in and out of consciousness, and start experiencing seizures or tremors.
As we’ve explored, monkey dust makes people feel more alert and euphoric, and these symptoms are accompanied by a racing heart.
Taking monkey dust frequently or in high doses can cause irreversible damage to the heart, [12] by affecting blood pressure and the arteries surrounding this precious organ.
Recreational users risk overstimulating the heart and damaging its vital blood supply, which poses serious risks to those with pre-existing conditions.
By disrupting the normal rhythm of the heart, this drug increases the risk of Atrial Fibrillation, a condition that can lead to blood clots in the heart.
Worryingly, this increases the risk of cardiovascular disease in later life, or of immediate cardiac arrest if the dose is too high.
While most people are aware that mixing drugs is a bad idea for their health, it commonly occurs in recreational settings.
Unfortunately, monkey dust is usually combined with alcohol, stimulants such as cocaine, or amphetamines like MDMA or speed.
Mixing monkey dust with alcohol increases the risk of heart damage and blood vessel obstruction.
Because blood clots are more likely to form, this can make life-altering medical emergencies more likely to happen.
Evidence suggests that blood clots lead to obstructions in the arteries, preventing blood flow to the brain.
Most people don’t consider stroke risk when they take monkey dust, but when use increases, these medical emergencies are a real danger.
A stroke is a life-altering event that happens when the blood flow to part of the brain is cut off.
If treatment isn’t accessed and the brain is deprived of oxygen for too long, people can suffer from disabilities as a result.
Monkey dust and other stimulant drugs [13] cause high blood pressure and hypertension.
With frequent use, these spikes in blood pressure can cause significant damage to the vessels in both the heart and brain.
Over time, blockages can form, specifically blood clots which constrict the vessels and cause them to become narrow.
This is one of the main causes of an Ischemic stroke, often caused by a blocked artery.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the only type of stroke monkey dust abuse can cause
Frequent spikes in blood pressure can lead to what is known as a hemorrhagic stroke, [14] usually caused by a bleed on the brain.
When a blood vessel leaks or bursts, it spills blood into the surrounding tissue and starves the brain of oxygen.
Monkey dust isn’t just physically dangerous, it can also cause long-term psychological damage.
Sadly, many people find that stimulant abuse causes their mental health to spiral, meaning they need psychotherapeutic and medical treatment.
After a monkey dust high has faded, many people report experiencing hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia that can linger for days.
Akin to conditions such as psychosis, they might also see and hear things that aren’t there, further warping their sense of reality.
Paranoia can also make someone think their loved ones are trying to harm them when this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Not only can this pose a significant threat to the individual’s safety, but it can also put those around them in danger.
Those amid monkey-dust-induced psychosis might misjudge distances, think they have superhuman strength, or try to drive under this illusion of invincibility.
This disconnection from reality can be a terrifying experience, and lead the sufferer to withdraw socially.
With all this disruption to their brain, users often have difficulty sleeping or staying asleep.
Drug-induced insomnia goes beyond struggling to sleep every now and then.
Those affected may be unable to fall asleep for days at a time, which can cause fatal levels of exhaustion.
When sleep-deprived, other mental symptoms such as anxiety and paranoia will get worse.
In the long term, monkey dust can also cause people to develop mental health issues, particularly anxiety or depressive disorders.
As long as they remain under the influence of monkey dust, symptoms of low mood, panic or restlessness will persist.
Many users also report a worsening of their pre-existing mental health symptoms after the drug has provided short-term relief.
However, realising that they have an addiction and need to seek treatment can be a difficult step to take.
While monkey dust is relatively new, its powerful stimulant effects on the brain increase its addictive potential.
Monkey dust addiction, often referred to as a Stimulant Use Disorder (SUD), [15] can cause someone’s life to quickly spiral downward.
Rather than a marker of someone’s character, addiction is a debilitating illness requiring long-term treatment.
Stimulants are known to cause worrying changes in the user’s brain, particularly in their reward centre.
But how exactly does this occur?
New evidence has suggested that monkey dust directly impacts the levels of three main chemicals related to pleasure: dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin.
While the latter two are both hormones, serotonin is associated with positive feelings of well-being while norepinephrine is related to energy levels and alertness.
Like other stimulant drugs, monkey dust increases the release of dopamine, causing users to feel intense levels of euphoria when they use it.
Once the effects wear off, recreating this euphoric high seems incredibly tempting, leading to repeated use.
Addiction to monkey dust often begins slowly, starting with infrequent use and building up to bi-weekly, weekly, and then daily use.
As someone’s tolerance to the drug builds, they’ll quickly develop a dependence, where they experience withdrawal symptoms if they don’t take monkey dust.
Suddenly, using monkey dust on occasion has morphed into regular use, intense cravings, and other withdrawal symptoms that entrap someone in a cycle of addiction.
This dependence is often accompanied by a psychological addiction, meaning someone thinks they need monkey dust to feel happy and cope with everyday life.
People can develop a monkey dust addiction for a variety of reasons, but oftentimes, the drug is being used as a form of escapism.
Because this drug provides a potent euphoric high, many people with co-occurring disorders use monkey dust to numb their symptoms.
For example, someone struggling with depression might use monkey dust to feel positive emotions again and escape their low mood.
Others may have a physical disorder, such as chronic pain, and use monkey dust in the same way as pain relief medication.
While this escapism might work for a while, a monkey dust high doesn’t last forever.
As soon as the drug wears off, symptoms will return and may be worse than before.
Monkey dust addiction may seem beak, but finding local support [16] is possible, and can be the turning point towards sobriety.
Individuals struggling to quit this powerful stimulant drug can turn to various places for help, including both inpatient and outpatient services.
Some popular treatment avenues here in the UK include:
With so many treatment paths to consider, the situation of recovery can soon become overwhelming.
If you’re worried about the possibility of monkey dust addiction in either yourself or a loved one, reach out to Rehab 4 Addiction today.
Our professional team provides non-judgemental advice, treatment resources and connections to rehab clinics across the UK.
Our simplified referral service allows whoever is suffering to access help when they need it most.
Rather than jumping through hoops or waiting for months to see a doctor, we help people access recovery options right away, and begin their drug-free life as soon as possible.
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3474442/
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9476408/
[3] https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-seeks-advice-on-monkey-dust
[6] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10093970/
[7] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26216554/
[8] https://adf.org.au/insights/monkey-dust-busting-the-myths/
[10] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3056348/
[11] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3217673/
[13] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10455873/
[14] https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/recognizing-the-most-common-warning-signs-of-a-stroke
[15] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8670631/
[16] https://www.staffs.ac.uk/news/2023/07/researchers-welcome-new-support-for-monkey-dust-users
[17] https://ukna.org/
Boris is our editor-in-chief at Rehab 4 Addiction. Boris is an addiction expert with more than 20 years in the field. His expertise covers a broad of topics relating to addiction, rehab and recovery. Boris is an addiction therapist and assists in the alcohol detox and rehab process. Boris has been featured on a variety of websites, including the BBC, Verywell Mind and Healthline. You can connect with Boris online at LinkedIn or X.com.
