Cathinones tested by The Loop London Drug Checking Services 2026

29th May 2026

The Loop tested 161 substances submitted in London in 2026, of which 1 in 5 were bought as cathinones, such as mephedrone. This makes them the 3rd most submitted drug to drug checking services in the UK and the Netherlands.

The cathinone market is diverse. Nearly 2/3 of cathinones submitted were missold: over half were different cathinones, and 1 in 10 contained other drugs.