Over the past few months Flintshire Young People’s Drug and Alcohol Team (YPDAT) has been inundated with a large amount of telephone calls from young people, parents, friends and professional workers in regards to the legal high mephedrone.
Referrals to YPDAT have increased significantly in recent months and the YPDAT has been proactive in informing partner agencies and providing them with information.
Mephedrone (also known as 4-MMC, ‘Meow’ and ‘M-Cat’, Bolt, Bubble, Drone) has seen its usage increase in vast amounts in Flintshire, particularly by young people. Flintshire YPDAT (Young People’s Drug and Alcohol Team) has already responded to the increase in the use of MCAT by young people across Flintshire.
Lesley Bayley – YPDAT Manager said: “YPDAT have produced information for professionals, a parents’ leaflet and powerpoint presentations to be used in schools. This information has been distributed to Head Teachers, Police, Children’s Services, Youth Services, Health Services including all GPs and A and E departments. Ongoing drug and alcohol education/awareness sessions are being delivered within Flintshire high schools and Pupil Referral Units.”
At this present moment in time, mephedrone and related drugs are currently legal and do not fall under The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, although currently the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs are scheduled to provide a report by the end of March 2010. It is an offence to sell it for human consumption and is currently being sold as plant food.
Mephedrone is most commonly sold as a white powder or crystal form or capsules containing the powder. It can also be found in pill form.
The YPDAT are concerned by the side effects that young people are reporting. According to lots of young people who are either service users of the YPDAT or who have phoned for advice they have named a number of side effects. These effects have simply been noted from young people and as yet there is no factual research that evidences this. Side effects included paranoia, insomnia, nose-bleeds, tolerance building up quickly so the desire to take more and more increases, suicidal thoughts, self-harm, anxiety, heart palpitations, after effects can last days, coughing up blood, violent comedowns, hallicinations, flash backs, changes to body temperature (very hot to very cold in quick succession),abnormal body odour, nausea and rashes.
Further information on mephedrone can be found from users themselves on websites such as www.erowid.org. FRANK has some general information on mephedrone www.dan247.org.uk or tel: 08006335588 and also www.talktofrank.com
Alternatively you can ring Flintshire YPDAT on: 01244 551477 or
