Durham Police launch mephedrone ban poster

Apr 16 2010 The Journal

POLICE in County Durham have launched a poster campaign to coincide with a new law banning possession or supply of mephedrone.

The force has been at the forefront of the national campaign to ban the drug widely used by young people, and officers are marking today’s new banning law by launching a campaign aimed at delivering the message that mephedrone can kill.

Posters explaining the new law and outlining the dangers of using the drug, also known as Meow Meow, will be displayed initially throughout south Durham and Darlington with plans to widen the campaign to cover the whole county.

Officers in Teesdale began distributing 250 copies of the poster to 70 locations including pubs, clubs, schools, leisure centres, youth clubs, GPs’ surgeries, shops and public buildings.

Copies will also be put up in the recreation and reception areas of Deerbolt young offenders’ centre at Barnard Castle.

Sgt Chris Knox of Barnard Castle police said: “Teesdale Neighbourhood Policing Team has been at the forefront of driving this ban. Mephedrone is a dangerous drug which can be lethal particularly when mixed with alcohol and other drugs.”

“Since Teesdale police became aware of the use of mephedrone in our area our agenda has been to educate users, parents and guardians regarding the dangers, reduce harm in the community and have the drug outlawed.”

Officers in Teesdale, County Durham, were among the first in the country to become aware of the ecstasy derivative – also known as drone, bubble or meow.

Five mephedrone users in the Cockfield area have been admitted to hospital suffering from problems connected with its use.

Nationally, several deaths have been linked to the drug’s use.

People are advised to dispose of their mephedrone by flushing it down a toilet.