‘Legal’ drug Mephedrone could have devastating side effects

Nov 27 2009 The Journal

“The drug is extremely addictive and the user has to normally top up on a regular basis. It could become a huge problem for both the police and local health authorities.

“Although it commonly appears to be turned into a powder and ingested inside a capsule, one concern is the drug’s potential usage in liquid form.

“If drops were placed in a drink in a crowded bar and an unwitting person were to drink it, it could have devastating consequences.”

The officer has compiled a report into the use of mephedrone across the Durham force area and part of his research has focused on online forums.

The report states: “A large number of contributors state how addictive mephedrone is and they are constantly topping up as one individual states that after using it for 18 hours his hallucinations led him to believe that centipedes were crawling over him and biting him.

“This led him to receive hospital treatment after he ripped his scrotum off.”

Inspector Kevin Tuck added: “We have seen the effects it has on young people.

“We have had officers assaulted by those high on it and two people have collapsed in the street.

“One person at Cockfield took 36 hours to come down from his ‘high’ and then had very serious paranoid problems when he did.

“Concerns have been raised via pub watch and local youth services and we even have individuals from elsewhere in the country trying to buy via Teesdale links.”

Darren Archer, manager of the County Durham Drug and Alcohol Action Team, said last night: “People are allowing themselves to be fooled into believing that just because a drug is not illegal it must be safe.

“Products sold as plant fertiliser will not be tested as safe for human consumption.”

A Home Office spokeswoman said that mephedrone was not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.