THE jury is out nationally on regulation for a ‘legal high’ drug currently masquerading as a plant food, but closer to home there are already efforts to warn of the dangers.

Recent warnings from local police about the use of mephedrone are a result of officers finding young people in possession of the substance.

But they also come at a time when the national spotlight has fallen on the availability and use of this non-controlled drug, not least in connection with the deaths of two teenagers following a night out in Scunthorpe, and this week, after the death of a young woman in Norton, near Malton, North Yorkshire.

Because mephedrone, also known as MCAT, meow meow, bubbles and 4-MMC, is not an illegal drug, and sellers and buyers can easily sidestep the ban on its sale for human consumption, it has fast become a popular recreational drug, especially in the club scene.

Described as a white ‘fluffy’ powder, although also being produced in crystal form, it is usually snorted or swallowed.

Feted by some within the recreational drugs scene as ‘safer’ than other (controlled) drugs, producing a sensation similar to that of Ecstasy or cocaine, but being cheaper, easier to obtain, and claimed to avoid putting money into the hands of dealers who have links to more serious crime, there is rapidly growing concern that those regularly using or about to try mephedrone are simply unaware of some of its already recognised dangers.

Over-stimulation of the heart and nervous system, fits, severe nose-bleeds, psychosis, anxiety, paranoia and vomiting blood are among the side effects various agencies which work with drugs users are warning of.

North Yorkshire Police this week issued a stern warning about the dangers of the drug, after the death of a 24-year-old woman. The force dubbed it ‘very dangerous’ and urged anyone who has taken it to contact their local GP or hospital at once.

The recent deaths of two boys on Humberside are thought to be linked to mephedrone, and the use of the substance has been scrutinised in connection with the deaths of other young people in the UK and abroad.

National pressure is being mounted to have the drug legally classified, and campaigners hope this will both make it much harder to come by, and convince users that the legal restriction is proof that it is not harmless.

This is where Wharfedale police and other local bodies are already taking a lead.

Appeals launched by police in Ilkley earlier in the month, and by police in Otley last week, have sought to make parents aware of the situation.

Word may well have got around among young people that there is a legal, cheap and supposedly safe way to get high. But their parents will no doubt be sceptical that there is nothing safe about this, both in terms of the possible ill side-effects, and the vulnerability of young people while under the influence of such substances.

As this drug has not been on the scene in the UK for very long – some believe the craze took off after music festivals last summer – it may be that unlike substances such as Ecstasy, cocaine and heroin, many parents of teens had until very recently not even heard of it. Police wanted to make parents aware of what their children or teenagers could be doing.

More work has been taking place, however, to get the word out about the health hazards of mephedrone, to make sure those taking it or tempted to try it have the hard facts to hand.

Inspector Richard Coldwell, from Leeds’ North West Outer Policing Team, says Safer Schools Partnership officers have been playing their role in warning about the dangers of mephedrone, through work normally done as part of the schools curriculum.

“Since we’re picking up that kids are getting hold of this mephedrone, we’ve upped the ante,” he said. “They’ve been doing assemblies, really taking every opportunity to address groups of pupils and teachers to get the message across, and we’ll contine to do that.”

Because comparatively little is known about the long-term effects of taking mephedrone, there is concern of what the side-effects could be months, or even years later.

Keighley voluntary street drug and alcohol agency, Project 6, said: “Currently there is no information available on the interaction of mephedrone with other drugs. Little is known about this substance at this time and the best advice is to avoid taking it.”

In the Ilkley area, where five under-18s were found with the substance, police have also been trying to get the message out to teens.

PC Brian Southgate updated Addingham councillors last week on the work taking place in the area, although no more incidents have been reported in or around Ilkley.

He said: “I did do a lot of work at Ilkley Grammar School and the school has come on board with us with regard to it.

“We haven’t got a problem with it out here but obviously there will be sporadic incidents in the area so we are trying to educate people before it kicks in.”

Ilkley Grammar’s assistant headteacher, Andy Calvert, said the school had done a sequence of assemblies on drug awareness, written information on drug education into the schemes of work in school, and drug education information is on notice boards around the school.

Mr Calvert said a parents’ drug education evening is being planned, following a similar event last year.

Schools minister Vernon Coaker has written to schools nationally, letting them know they are within their rights to confiscate the drug and any other ‘legal highs’ they find pupils in possession of.

As for the supposed lack of any criminal aspect to using mephedrone, police have something to say about that, too.

Insp Coldwell pointed out that anyone caught in possession of a substance which could easily be either mephedrone or cocaine is at serious risk of arrest, as tests must be carried out to check what the substance is.

“If they’ve got this white powder on them in little bags, they’ll be arrested,” he said.

He is also keen to dispel the drug’s ‘legal’ image by pointing out that suppliers may not be free of criminal ties.

“The people who are selling this are not far removed from the people who are selling hard drugs and illegal drugs. It’s that association with that cycle of use and offending.”

Ilkley police have already warned that suppliers may still be breaking the law, particularly if they supply mephedrone to under 18s.

It is not legal to sell mephedrone in the UK for human consumption. Sellers usually claim they are selling it for research or horticultural purposes, and generally give warnings that the substance is not for human consumption.

There are some sellers of the chemical whose marketing for mephedrone does not exactly spell out the substance’s benefits for plants as the main selling point.

They come up with fashionable names for their business, and juggle terms such as ‘legal high’ alongside the required warnings, even comparing the effects of their ‘designer research chemicals’ to cocaine and amphetamine.

Most of the online suppliers do, in fact, put some sort of warning on their website, indicating that the ‘powerful’ chemical should not be consumed by humans, and hint vaguely that some sort of harm could be caused by consumption.

The emphasis on some of these warnings is in the form of a disclaimer, ruling out the seller’s responsibility should the buyer choose to consume mephedrone and suffer ill effects.

Insp Coldwell believes sellers should clearly state there is a risk that taking mephedrone could prove fatal.

Anyone concerned about their own or someone else’s substance use can ring Project 6 for confidential advice and information on 01535 610180. They also operate a duty service every afternoon between 1 and 5pm. No appointment is needed.

Further information is available from Government drugs information service Frank, online at talktofrank.com, and confidential advice is also available from Frank by calling 0800 776600.