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The New High in Norway:
Tackling Monkey Dust Through Harm Reduction
Written by Stu Fenton, Gestalt Psychotherapist and Addictions/Chemsex Specialist
Foto: private
Monkey Dust was first documented in Europe in Berlin’s chemsex networks and select sex clubs starting around 2023, some reports say even earlier during the pandemic, where it emerged as a niche but concerning addition to the existing drugs used in chemsex culture. While it remains rare in the broader party scene, its use is not confined to Berlin, but appears to be moving northward, with recent accounts from in parts of Norway as well. This spread from a relatively contained urban subculture into new geographic and social contexts raises urgent questions about what Monkey Dust is, why it appeals to certain people and groups, and how individuals, communities and services can respond in a responsible, supportive and culturally competent manner in order to reduce harm.
What exactly is Monkey Dust?
Monkey Dust is a potent synthetic cathinone (MDPV) and acts as a stimulant and has been reported to produce effects similar to those of cocaine, methylphenidate and amphetamine. It is usually smoked as fine crystals or powder, can be experienced as significantly stronger and is said to carry greater risks than mephedrone or 3‑MMC. There is limited scientific data and it has been frequently mislabelled in the drug market. Monkey Dust combines intense stimulation with a high risk of rapid loss of control and feelings of anxiety. It usually comes as a fine white, off‑white, yellowish or sometimes brown crystalline powder, but it can also be pressed into pills or filled into capsules. Monkey Dust can produce strong stimulation and alertness, increased motivation, sociability, euphoria, sexual desire and disinhibition, while suppressing hunger and thirst and sometimes sharpening concentration and self‑consciousness. At the same time, it can also trigger hallucinations and a powerful urge to keep redosing, which increases the risk of losing control.
Monkey Dust is a potent synthetic cathinone (MDPV) and acts as a stimulant and has been reported to produce effects similar to those of cocaine, methylphenidate and amphetamine. It is usually smoked as fine crystals or powder, can be experienced as significantly stronger and is said to carry greater risks than mephedrone or 3‑MMC. There is limited scientific data and it has been frequently mislabelled in the drug market. Monkey Dust combines intense stimulation with a high risk of rapid loss of control and feelings of anxiety. It usually comes as a fine white, off‑white, yellowish or sometimes brown crystalline powder, but it can also be pressed into pills or filled into capsules. Monkey Dust can produce strong stimulation and alertness, increased motivation, sociability, euphoria, sexual desire and disinhibition, while suppressing hunger and thirst and sometimes sharpening concentration and self‑consciousness. At the same time, it can also trigger hallucinations and a powerful urge to keep redosing, which increases the risk of losing control.
Important tips and information for users and health care workers.
Planning
When thinking about safer use of Monkey Dust, planning should begin well before anyone takes a first dose. Wherever possible, it is important to access the support of drug‑checking services and to be very aware of current substance alerts, as mislabelling and contamination are common with this group of synthetic cathinones.
Underlying mental health conditions are a key risk factor. If someone has a history of psychosis, severe anxiety, or comes from a family where schizophrenia exists, the chances of them experiencing paranoia or other psychological side‑effects are thought to be much higher. Anyone with cardiovascular or metabolic illnesses like heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes can be at risk of physical problems - so in those cases it is safest to avoid use altogether or at least get thorough medical advice beforehand.
Planning
When thinking about safer use of Monkey Dust, planning should begin well before anyone takes a first dose. Wherever possible, it is important to access the support of drug‑checking services and to be very aware of current substance alerts, as mislabelling and contamination are common with this group of synthetic cathinones.
Underlying mental health conditions are a key risk factor. If someone has a history of psychosis, severe anxiety, or comes from a family where schizophrenia exists, the chances of them experiencing paranoia or other psychological side‑effects are thought to be much higher. Anyone with cardiovascular or metabolic illnesses like heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes can be at risk of physical problems - so in those cases it is safest to avoid use altogether or at least get thorough medical advice beforehand.
Stu Fenton has many years of experience in giving both therapeutic help to chemsex-participants, but also with providing harm reduction services.
Thinking ahead about how to cope if things turn bad can make a real difference
Being well‑rested is another important element of harm reduction, because sleep deprivation itself makes anxious/paranoid reactions more likely, and Monkey Dust already has been documented to contribute to longer sessions and phases of wakefulness. with Monkey Dust it has been frequently reported that the urge to redose can be strong and it is therefore important to plan around that while still sober: for example, deciding in advance a maximum amount that will be used and a time frame, not keeping extra supplies within easy reach, or choosing oral use rather than smoking to reduce intensity and compulsive re‑dosing.
Finally, thinking ahead about how to cope if things turn bad can make a real difference. That might mean arranging for a trusted, sober person to be available, identifying a calm space to retreat to, and where appropriate having access to safely prescribed medication that can reduce acute anxiety. All of these steps do not make Monkey Dust “safe,” but they can reduce some of the worst risks for those who choose to use it.
Finally, thinking ahead about how to cope if things turn bad can make a real difference. That might mean arranging for a trusted, sober person to be available, identifying a calm space to retreat to, and where appropriate having access to safely prescribed medication that can reduce acute anxiety. All of these steps do not make Monkey Dust “safe,” but they can reduce some of the worst risks for those who choose to use it.
Using
When people do choose to use Monkey Dust, small practical steps can reduce, though not necessarily remove risk, and this is relevant both for users and for the health care workers supporting them. Starting with very small “test” amounts and giving the drug plenty of time to work before taking more can help avoid sudden overdosing. With these kinds of cathinones, even a few extra milligrams can make the difference between an enjoyable high and an experience dominated by a racing heart beat, agitation, reslessness and feelings of panic. Using a scale accurate to the milligram, rather than guessing lines or bumps, is therefore an important harm‑reduction tool.
When people do choose to use Monkey Dust, small practical steps can reduce, though not necessarily remove risk, and this is relevant both for users and for the health care workers supporting them. Starting with very small “test” amounts and giving the drug plenty of time to work before taking more can help avoid sudden overdosing. With these kinds of cathinones, even a few extra milligrams can make the difference between an enjoyable high and an experience dominated by a racing heart beat, agitation, reslessness and feelings of panic. Using a scale accurate to the milligram, rather than guessing lines or bumps, is therefore an important harm‑reduction tool.
Graphic Design: Vetle Hovland
For health care workers, it can be useful to know that people who use Monkey Dust often describe a rapid escalation in dose and frequency once they begin, especially when smoking, and that anxiety and paranoia can appear quite suddenly. A clear message is that any onset of marked anxiety, suspiciousness, or paranoid ideas is a strong signal to stop using immediately; further dosing may briefly blunt discomfort but can also lead to greater psychological distress in the ensuing hours. In sexual situations or at chills overheating is an added risk to remain aware of. Its best to encourage regular breaks from sex or dancing and to fiind access to cool air. Non‑alcoholic fluids and drinks containing electrolytes can reduce strain on the cardiovascular system and lower the chance of collapse.
In chemsex contexts, where jaw clenching, chewing, and grinding can sometimes occur, something as simple as sugar‑free chewing gum can protect teeth, gums and oral mucosa, and this is best attained and held close at hand easily accessed for users before they start partying.
For healthcare professionals, framing these strategies non‑judgmentally—as practical ways to stay “a bit safer tonight” rather than as endorsements of use—can open conversations about Monkey Dust, support informed choices, and create trust for later work on reducing or stopping use altogether if that is ever a chosen course of action.
In chemsex contexts, where jaw clenching, chewing, and grinding can sometimes occur, something as simple as sugar‑free chewing gum can protect teeth, gums and oral mucosa, and this is best attained and held close at hand easily accessed for users before they start partying.
For healthcare professionals, framing these strategies non‑judgmentally—as practical ways to stay “a bit safer tonight” rather than as endorsements of use—can open conversations about Monkey Dust, support informed choices, and create trust for later work on reducing or stopping use altogether if that is ever a chosen course of action.
Aftercare
After the effects of Monkey Dust wear off, the risks do not simply stop; the “after‑use” phase is just as important as the preparation and the using phase. Often users utilise other substances such as GHB/GBL (“G”) or benzodiazepines to “come down” or sleep. While this can seem to smooth the crash, it can also lead to a dependence risk. Over time, the body can become reliant on these depressants as well, creating a pattern of cycling between powerful uppers and downers. For healthcare professionals, gently exploring how someone manages their comedown—and screening for G or benzo dependence alongside stimulant use, can be crucial.
After Monkey Dust, people often report feeling low, emotionally fragile, exhausted or irritable, sometimes for days. Framing this as a possible or even likely “after‑effect” rather than a personal failure can help users prepare. This could include arranging a quiet day or two where they dont have to work, eating simple food of protein shakes, and remembering to keep fluid intake up. Engaging in low‑demand activities can reduce the temptation to use again just to escape the crash. Health care professionals can normalise these post‑use mood swings and help clients distinguish between a short‑term comedown and more persistent depressive symptoms that might need additional support.
Longer breaks between periods of use—at least four to six weeks—give the body and brain a chance to recover and may reduce tolerance, meaning users are less pushed toward higher doses. From a harm reduction standpoint, encouraging “planned pauses” is often more realistic than insisting on immediate total abstinence, particularly in communities where chemsex is heavily embedded into social and sexual networks. For health care workers, working collaboratively to schedule these breaks, track mood and functioning during them, and explore what makes them easier or harder can open up important and supportive conversations about goals, dependence, and safer alternatives over time.
After the effects of Monkey Dust wear off, the risks do not simply stop; the “after‑use” phase is just as important as the preparation and the using phase. Often users utilise other substances such as GHB/GBL (“G”) or benzodiazepines to “come down” or sleep. While this can seem to smooth the crash, it can also lead to a dependence risk. Over time, the body can become reliant on these depressants as well, creating a pattern of cycling between powerful uppers and downers. For healthcare professionals, gently exploring how someone manages their comedown—and screening for G or benzo dependence alongside stimulant use, can be crucial.
After Monkey Dust, people often report feeling low, emotionally fragile, exhausted or irritable, sometimes for days. Framing this as a possible or even likely “after‑effect” rather than a personal failure can help users prepare. This could include arranging a quiet day or two where they dont have to work, eating simple food of protein shakes, and remembering to keep fluid intake up. Engaging in low‑demand activities can reduce the temptation to use again just to escape the crash. Health care professionals can normalise these post‑use mood swings and help clients distinguish between a short‑term comedown and more persistent depressive symptoms that might need additional support.
Longer breaks between periods of use—at least four to six weeks—give the body and brain a chance to recover and may reduce tolerance, meaning users are less pushed toward higher doses. From a harm reduction standpoint, encouraging “planned pauses” is often more realistic than insisting on immediate total abstinence, particularly in communities where chemsex is heavily embedded into social and sexual networks. For health care workers, working collaboratively to schedule these breaks, track mood and functioning during them, and explore what makes them easier or harder can open up important and supportive conversations about goals, dependence, and safer alternatives over time.
Monkey Dust and HIV meds.
For people living with HIV, Monkey Dust and other synthetic cathinones are especially unpredictable because almost nothing is known about how they interact with antiretroviral meds, and different chemicals are often sold under the same name. Using smaller doses, avoiding taking drugs and HIV meds at exactly the same time, and still keeping strictly to ARV dose times on long nights out are simple harm‑reduction steps. Some HIV medicines, for example ritonavir‑boosted regimens, may raise levels of certain cathinones in the body, but research is limited, so it is important that users feel safe to talk openly with their HIV doctor or clinic about their drug use so they can watch for side‑effects and plan together.
For people living with HIV, Monkey Dust and other synthetic cathinones are especially unpredictable because almost nothing is known about how they interact with antiretroviral meds, and different chemicals are often sold under the same name. Using smaller doses, avoiding taking drugs and HIV meds at exactly the same time, and still keeping strictly to ARV dose times on long nights out are simple harm‑reduction steps. Some HIV medicines, for example ritonavir‑boosted regimens, may raise levels of certain cathinones in the body, but research is limited, so it is important that users feel safe to talk openly with their HIV doctor or clinic about their drug use so they can watch for side‑effects and plan together.
Graphic Design: Vetle Hovland
Safer Sex and Monkey Dust.
Monkey Dust can make chemsex riskier because it can lower inhibitions, numb pain, and can increase self‑centredness or aggression, all of which make it harder to stick to safer‑sex agreements. It sometimes helps to assume that ones ability to stick to these initial intended boundaries and safe using strategies may become impacted once a person is high it can be advantageous to put your protection in place before using. For example decide with using buddies what is and isn’t wanted, agree on limits, and have condoms, gloves and plenty of lube within easy reach. Because Monkey Dust can dull pain and encourage long, rough sessions, the risk of internal injuries and therefore HIV and STI transmission goes up, so changing condoms regularly (for example every 30 minutes in long sessions) or using another agreed protection strategy, plus generous lube, is very important. If you use PrEP or HIV meds, plan ahead so you still take them on time—setting a phone alarm is often more reliable than remembering later.
Consent requires that everyone can still clearly say yes or no and recognise when a partner is uncomfortable; that means avoiding doses so high that you are confused, blacking out or unable to notice rejection or distress. For users, a simple test is whether you could still leave the situation, say “stop,” or help someone else if they were unwell; if not, the dose is already too much for consensual sex.
For healthcare professionals, it can be helpful to ask concretely how people manage consent, condoms and PrEP “on chems,” and to offer STI testing, vaccinations (e.g. hepatitis A/B) and non‑judgemental support as routine parts of care. Encouraging regular sexual health check‑ups, and reminding users to observe and stay aware of their bodies in case they notice bleeding, pain, sores or other changes after sessions.
Conclusion
Monkey Dust adds a new layer of risk to the current diverse chemsex scene, but it does not remove your right to make informed choices, protect your health and the health of others. Paying attention to dose, sleep, interactions with HIV meds, your body and that of others as well as safer sex is not about being perfect – it is about giving your body and mind the best chance to come through each night in one piece. If you notice that Monkey Dust is starting to take more than it gives, reaching out early – to friends, peer projects, health care professionals or trusted services – is a sign of strength, not failure. Harm reduction starts from where people really are, and together it is possible to build chemsex cultures that are fun, safe, honest, better informed, and kinder to the people in them.
Monkey Dust can make chemsex riskier because it can lower inhibitions, numb pain, and can increase self‑centredness or aggression, all of which make it harder to stick to safer‑sex agreements. It sometimes helps to assume that ones ability to stick to these initial intended boundaries and safe using strategies may become impacted once a person is high it can be advantageous to put your protection in place before using. For example decide with using buddies what is and isn’t wanted, agree on limits, and have condoms, gloves and plenty of lube within easy reach. Because Monkey Dust can dull pain and encourage long, rough sessions, the risk of internal injuries and therefore HIV and STI transmission goes up, so changing condoms regularly (for example every 30 minutes in long sessions) or using another agreed protection strategy, plus generous lube, is very important. If you use PrEP or HIV meds, plan ahead so you still take them on time—setting a phone alarm is often more reliable than remembering later.
Consent requires that everyone can still clearly say yes or no and recognise when a partner is uncomfortable; that means avoiding doses so high that you are confused, blacking out or unable to notice rejection or distress. For users, a simple test is whether you could still leave the situation, say “stop,” or help someone else if they were unwell; if not, the dose is already too much for consensual sex.
For healthcare professionals, it can be helpful to ask concretely how people manage consent, condoms and PrEP “on chems,” and to offer STI testing, vaccinations (e.g. hepatitis A/B) and non‑judgemental support as routine parts of care. Encouraging regular sexual health check‑ups, and reminding users to observe and stay aware of their bodies in case they notice bleeding, pain, sores or other changes after sessions.
Conclusion
Monkey Dust adds a new layer of risk to the current diverse chemsex scene, but it does not remove your right to make informed choices, protect your health and the health of others. Paying attention to dose, sleep, interactions with HIV meds, your body and that of others as well as safer sex is not about being perfect – it is about giving your body and mind the best chance to come through each night in one piece. If you notice that Monkey Dust is starting to take more than it gives, reaching out early – to friends, peer projects, health care professionals or trusted services – is a sign of strength, not failure. Harm reduction starts from where people really are, and together it is possible to build chemsex cultures that are fun, safe, honest, better informed, and kinder to the people in them.
Want to contact Stu Fenton?
Stu Fenton is an experienced clinical psychotherapist and counselor with over 18 years of expertise in addiction treatment. He’s known for his pioneering work in developing world-leading clinical programs, including the R12 Alumni Project and the ChemSex Abstinence Project. Stu did himself overcome Chemsex addiction himself to becoming a knowledgeable expert in the field. Stu Fenton is based in Berlin and you can reach him via:
http://www.beyondaddiction.eu/
https://stufenton.com.au/
http://www.beyondaddiction.eu/
https://stufenton.com.au/
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Publisert 26.1.2025