Psychoactive drug 4-MA included in controlled substances’ list

A legal notice has introduced new psychoactive stimulants to the government's controlled substances, after a concerted EU response to concerns over 4-methylamphetamine (4-MA).

The Maltese government introduced 4-MA into its controlled substances list earlier last week, after reports submitted to the European Commission and Council in 2012 assessed the health and social risks of the drug as well as international trafficking and the involvement of organised crime.

The Council Decision is based on the findings of a formal risk-assessment report on 4-MA produced in 2012 by the extended Scientific Committee of the EU drugs agency (EMCDDA), with participation of additional experts from the EU member states, European Commission, Europol and the European Medicines Agency .

4-MA belongs to the group of synthetic phenethylamines and is closely related to amphetamine. It has no established medical value and has no known legitimate purpose, aside from limited use in scientific research.

The drug appears to be sold on the illicit market as amphetamine, being frequently mixed with it. Available information suggests that it is produced and distributed by the same organised crime groups involved in the manufacture and trafficking of amphetamine.

A risk-assessment report detailed 21 fatalities in four EU member states (Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, UK), where 4-MA was detected in post-mortem samples, either alone or in combination with other substances, particularly amphetamine.

The adverse effects of 4-MA include hyperthermia, hypertension, anorexia, nausea, paranoia and anxiety.