Monkey Dust

Chemical names

Pyrovelone, pyro’s, alpha’s, pips, alpha-PHP, alpha-PiHP, alpha PHiP, a-PHP, a-PVP 

Slang names

MD, magic crystals, ‘flakka’

Overview

Monkey dust, of MD, is the street name for different designer drugs including MDPV (3,4-methyleendioxypyrovaleron) and MDPHP (3′,4′-Methylenedioxy-α-pyrrolidinohexiophenone). These are synthetic cathinones that belong to the so-called ‘pyro’s’. Monkey dust is often incorrectly described in the media as the ‘zombie drug’. The substance gives strong stimulating and long-lasting hallucinogenic effects. Monkey dust is sold as a (off-)white, yellow, of brownish (fine or coarse) powder or small crystals, although rarely as a paste.

Its effects are often compared to that of other strong amphetamines, such as cocaine and crystal meth: increased alertness, positive mood, increased focus, boost in energy, better sociability and talkativeness, and a suppression of appetite. Even more so that other stimulating drugs, monkey dust increases the release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and norepinephrine and after use, withdrawal symptoms are delayed. Monkey dust causes intense cravings and a severe comedown after use.

A number of pyro-variants were available in smartshops and online until 2014. Afterwards, these variants were sold under the radar. As a result of the public nuisance they caused because of the severe effects on people’s physical and mental health, since 2024 all new psychoactive substances (NPS), including monkey dust, have been put on the list of forbidden substances.

Since then, there is more uncertainty about the composition and strength of monkey dust. If you don’t know what you’re exactly you are using, that increases the chances of (unintended) overdoses with severe negative consquences, in particular, anxious and realistic (hallucinatory) images. You are your own guinea pig. 

Delivery methods

Smoking, snorting, swallowing (bomb), booty bumping. Injecting (slamming) is strongly discouraged because of the heightened risk of serious complications (including severe psychosis and vein problems). 

The effects of monkey dust normally last for two to three hours, but can last up to eight hours. This, in addition to dosage and consumption method, is dependent on the drug user’s expereince and which other drug(s) it is combined with. The more you take and the more often you use it, the shorter the desired effects will be.

Physical effects

Dependent on dosage, frequency, duration and context of use.

• Increase in blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, focus, energy, alertness and muscle tension, dilated pupils, suppression of hunger and thirst, skin issues, dental issues, muscle cramps and muscle spasms.

Psychological and sexual effects

Dependent on dosage, frequency, duration and context of use.

• Psychological: Increased self-confidence, sociability, and euphoria. 
  
• Sexual: Lowering of sexual inhibitions and increase in long-lasting sexual energy and focus.

Acute risks

Dependent on dosage, frequency and duration of use.

• Physical: Insomnia,weight loss, overheating, exhausation, heavy sweating, jerky movements, balance disorders, teeth grinding, shortness of breath (smoking)< strongly increased blood pressure and heart rate, epileptic attacks, heartpain, asthma attacks, pneumonia.
• Psychological: Iritability, aggression, hallucinations, anxiety and panic attacks, ‘paranoia’, delirium, compulsive use, intense cravings, sensations of insects crawling under your skin, relatively fast loss of control, long-lasting psychosis, suicidal thoughts/attempts.

Short- and long-term effects

Dependent on dosage, frequency and duration of use.

Significant weightloss, severe dehydration, liver damage, gloominess, depression, memory loss, loss of social connections, work and/or housing, long-lasting psychosis, severe mental dependency, weakened immunesystem, suicidal thoughts/acts.

Tips for use

• There is little known about the long-term effects of alpha. Be aware that you are your own guinea pig.
• Test your alpha at a testservice in your neighourbood. This is especially important with alpha because different substances (including α-PVP/alfa-PVP, alfa-PiHP, a-PHP) are sold under the same name. The strength, duration, and side effects of alpha can vary depending on the exact substance.
• Only use alpha if you a feeling physically and mentally healthy.
• Eat before you take alpha, because it depletes your body’s and mind’s energy reserves. Make sure that you have some fuel, otherwise your body will get tired out quickly.
• Always start with a very low dosage. An overdose can happen quickly because of the differences in dosing between the diverse alpha variants that are all sold as bath salts.
• Avoid combining with other stimulants such as XTC, crystal meth, speed, cocaine or 3-MMC. Uppers increase the chance of heart and vascular problems and overheating. Combining drugs increases the chances of negative side-effects.
• Make sure you sleep enough. Discuss beforehand when you are going to stop. Set an alarm to remind yourself. The longer that you stay awake, the higher the risk of an overdose, paranoia and psychosis.
• If you smoke alpha, make your pipe as long as possible. The shorter your pipe is, the hotter the air that comes into your lungs will be, and thus, how greater the damage.
• Do not hold the smoke in after inhaling: it does not give any extra effect, and it is more damaging for your lungs.
• Do not use a torch lighter, just a regular lighter. That way, you evaporate the alpha instead of burning it and you inhale less damaging substances.
• You have the most control by heating the pyro from below on thick aluminium foil and breathing it in through a tube: you see how the product vaporizes.
• If you use a pipe, remove the (black) residue of the alpha in your pipe by soaking it in a soda bath and then removing the residue with a pipe cleaner.
• If you snort alpha, make sure you use your own sniffing tube and never share it with others.
• Pay attention to your body temperature; avoid overheating. Cool down every now and again.
• Decrease the chance of teeth damage with sugar-free chewing gum. In doing so, you stimulate saliva production.
• There is little known about the long-term effects of alpha. Be aware that you are your own guinea pig.
• Do not drive if you are under the influence.
• Do not use alpha during pregnancy. MD is harmful is your unborn child.
• If you have previously experienced psychosis as a result of monkey dust use, be aware that is likely to happen again. If this happens, stop immediately.
• Have you previously dealt with pyschotic episodes? Avoid using monkey dust and other pyro’s.
• More and more (ex-)users report that monkey dust can lead to an obsessive dependence fairly quickly, whereby you keep using more and more foten that planned or desired.