The following survey data was collected online on our RaveSafe web site during the period March - April 2003. The survey was advertised on dance web sites and email newsletters. The intention was to collect insight into synthetic Kat powder use (methcathinone) since we were getting increasing reports of Kat use and problems, and needed to produce a specific Information flyer to address this.

1) Results Table:

2) Comments

-Almost all of the respondents were from Gauteng, South Africa. The context is almost exclusively ‘clubbers'

-All most all reported Snorting as means of consumption (one is Australia injected, and one in Cape Town smoked it)

-Average age is up from our most recent ‘Rave' survey, where the age was 21.8

3) A Selection of Comments submitted

Positives:

- Good dancing drug, loads of energy, brain working over time....
- High energy you feel sharp and awake
- It makes me feel as though I'm in control of me.
- Sobers you up if you drink too much.
- Enhanced communication, Energy levels, Ability to perhaps speak about things which might have been harder to bring up had you not been on the drug.
- Very social effect, a bit like "have a cigarette" or "have a beer" (the Big Two of legal drugs :). Some alertness, euphoria (provided you don't shove a small fortune up your nose!)
- Alertness and stimulation.
- Feeling of power. Strong drive. Able to program for many hours/days.
- Incredible eurphoria, total feeling of comfort,
- A prolonged period of happiness and energy
- Happiness, energy and just a good mood.
- Alertness, clear state of mind, enhanced physical performance, euphoric and very social. Effectiveness lasts up to 12 hours on 6 neat lines. Full potential surfaces after 2-3 hours.
- I used Kat with cocaine,it took the edge of coke and felt really calm. I also use it with ecstasy, it really gave me a boost. It gives you a feeling of calm and relaxation, quite chilled out on its own.
- Alive, Energetic, Clear, Happy, Talkativ.
- Enhances your senses which was great during foreplay/sex., Was nice in a social clubbing environment at first, you are very open to talk about sensitive issues.
- Uplifting, provides false sense of energy, and confidence
- Increased energy, chatty ness, Sexual orgasm very intense, Hightend Physical power.
- Talkative, energetic, love music, confident, euphoric, physically nice.
- Makes you feel awake & energetic & horny .
- Euphoric feelings, energetic, uninhibited social abilities, the idea that one is more focused on things around you
- Increased alertness and slight euphoria
- Makes me talkative, lose inhibitions, euphoric, definitely a stay at home with friends thing. Very nice whilst you are 'up'.
- Wide awake feeling, able to drink more than usual,s ocially similar to cocaine-but without the confident feeling, more a talkative buzz.

Negatives:

- It was a lot like being on acid but I had no control over myself and went totally wild. I had little recollection of the previous evening, so my only experience with kat was one I'd rather not have over so I rather stay away from it.
- Not 2 good come-down, 2-3 days to recover, no energy 4 the time.....
- Headaches, blood nose breathing problems cant eat cant sleep loss of concentration neglected family and friends, financial problems.
- I'm scared that it'll take me on to harder drugs, and that I won't be in control anymore.
- Horrible withdrawals, heart palpitations with prolonged use. Strange nervous jolts when used excessively.
- It's so bad for you!!! It's illegal.
- Bad skin reactions, less disposable income.
- Many Kat users seem to not realise how grumpy they get. :)
- Come down - feeling a tad moody and depressed, mood swings & short-tempered.
- Down period afterwards, lack of interest in world.
- Scattered thoughts, psychosis(after long periods), withdrawal
- Sleep deprivation, little bit of paranoia, sexual dysfunction
- Paranoia, the shakes, hear voices
- Buzzy feeling a few days afterwards
- Temptation to take more and more and more...
- Messes up nasal cavity depending on dosage.
- The major negative effect is the addiction itself. There is a need to want more every time it is being snorted.
- Bloated stomach, muscle cramps, can't sleep. Hollywood flu.
- Taste and the really sore nose the next week.
- Paranoia, Depression when not using, Bad Skin (Ecsema), Aggression
- Terrible back drop and body odour. mood swings, depression and you become very paranoid about everything around you. You sweat terribly
- Insomnia. Sweating. Weird skin sensations.
- One line, two lines, three lines, four, five, eight, ten .... never enough, always want more. This could easily end up becoming a drug (like cocaine) that you would and could use on a daily basis.
- Serious downers, mood swings and a feeling of need.
- Depression going with comedown, comedown seems to be extremely long, Sometimes takes very long before being able to sleep after your last line, Very addictive.
- Tired the day after. Moody. Burns your nose, and your phlegm tastes like poison.
- Increased heart rate, not being in total control, feelings of panic when coming down, unable to sleep, not knowing what the long-term effects are, the addictive quality it has
- Bad comedown, depression for days afterwards, eventually the 'down' outweighed the 'up'. Stopped taking it.
- Horrible hot flushes, inability to talk properly-tended to mispronounce words and sentences. vomiting normally during comedown. lack of hunger.

Other Comments:

- Months later I still have cravings... "How good it would be to do it again..."
- I have a few friends that are quite hectic into it, and think that it becomes very addictive. I am quite worried about them, even though myself a user of drugs. Be careful!
- Over all I enjoy the stuff but am aware of it's addictive qualities, allow people to know that you are using and know how often you are using.
- If you can avoid it, then you are in luck! Once you try it, there is no turning back! It's too damn nice, anywhere, anytime, any place!
- Most of the people I know have taken, or are still taking it.
- Stupid drug, piggy backing on the coke schnarfing trend. People like to schnarf as they reckon they are cool. Bloody waste of time and money as far as I'm concerned, although I will do a free line if one comes around. Makes you sweat cos it is so poisonous I reckon. Body trying to rid itself of toxins. I think it is also easy to make, so we have like 50 backyard cook ups happening with fuckall standards. Get it off the street.
- I want to stop using this drug since its making me not enjoy 'e' or any other drug the way I used to, since this drug is so over powering
- I still use Kat on the odd occasion, but after last year and the way I was heading I have all but stopped it. The problem with Kat is that it becomes a problem LONG before you notice that it is a problem. We got to the stage where it was an every, yes EVERY weekend affair, and that is a problem even though we kept on saying it wasn't!!!

- Many thanks to all who contributed -