4-Methylthioamphetamine is a drug known as 4MT, 4-MTA, "Flatliners" or 1-(4-methylthiophenyl)-2-aminopropane. 4-MTA is currently a Class A drug in the United Kingdom although it has been suggested it be rescheduled as a Class B drug.[1]
4-MTA is a stimulant and strong serotonin releaser, similar to paramethoxyamphetamine but even more dangerousclarify, as it can cause pronounced hyperthermia which can result in organ failure and death. The subjective effects of 4-MTA include prolonged stimulation, which in contrast to other amphetamines, is accompanied by little sense of euphoria. 4MTA is also an MAO-A inhibitor, which may explain its tendency to easily cause adverse effects, as MAOIs are not considered safe to use in conjunction with stimulants.
History
It was developed by the research team led by David E. Nichols, but was intended to be used only as an agent for laboratory research into the serotonin transporter protein, and Nichols was reportedly horrified when 4-MTA appeared as a drug of abuse on the street.
4-MTA was briefly sold in smartshops in the Netherlands, though was soon banned by the Dutch government after serious side-effects started to emerge. It was also briefly sold on the black market as MDMA during the late 1990s, mainly in the USA, but proved unpopular due to its high risk of severe side effects (several deaths were reported) and relative lack of positive euphoria.
