Crackdown gets on top of drugs crisis

Oct 11 2010 by Neil McKay, The Journal

POLICE claim misuse of a killer drug which swept the country has been cracked in a rural part of the North a year after it became the UK “epicentre” for its use.

Last year, Barnard Castle Police in County Durham – supported by local MP Helen Goodman – were at the forefront of a national campaign calling for mephedrone to be banned.

The warning came after five youngsters from the nearby village of Cockfield were hospitalised after taking the drug. A user who became “psychotic” also attacked a police officer in Teesdale. The drug’s use spread across the North East and other police forces across the country began to report similar problems.

Mephedrone, which at the time could be bought legally over the internet, was banned by the Government this spring.

Now police bosses say the drug’s use has tailed off in Teesdale.