Fears for Bournemouth uni group using M-CAT

And Bournemouth University students are reportedly not only using the potentially dangerous drug, but even ordering it to be delivered to halls of residence.

Mephedrone, which was associated with the deaths of 18 and 19-year-old friends from Scunthorpe on Monday, is becoming “common” in the town, according to Chris Snelling, co-ordinator of the Bournemouth Drug and Alcohol Action Team.

He became aware of the substance, also known as M-CAT, MC and miaow miaow, last year.

“In the past five or six weeks there are reports of more of it being used – it’s quite common,” he added.

“In fact the last comment was the beginning of this week. A group of 40 students were seen using it by an outreach worker.”

He said the worker had come across a group in Bournemouth at the end of last week “who stated they were using it or had used” mephedrone.

Mr Snelling said the drug was “easily available and cheaper than alcohol,” had a stimulant effect, similar to that of amphetamines or cocaine – and could be just as addictive.

He called it “a dangerous substance,” and supported calls to have it banned.

Legal highs factfile

Legal highs are usually man-made chemical substances designed to act like illegal drugs.

Synthesised in laboratories, often based in China, they fall outside most drug control laws.

The have been sold openly for a number of years – but are coming under increasingly scrutiny after being linked to a number of deaths.

In December the government moved to ban a number of such substances, including GBL, which was linked to the death of medical student Hester Stewart in Brighton last April.

Synthetic cannabis “spice”, a herbal mixture laced with psycho-active chemicals, was also banned and slapped with a Class B rating.

But the law is frequently playing catch-up to those who manufacture these drugs, who quickly tweak the formulas enough to side-step the bans, or create new substances.

Mephedrone is already banned in Sweden, Demark and Israel. It is currently being looked into by the Uk’s Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.

Mephedrone is also the cover story in the latest copy of Bournemouth University student magazine Wire, which reports students are having the drug delivered to Lansdowne halls of residence.

Journalism student Ash Tulett, 19, who wrote the article in Wire magazine, said methedrone was becoming “the new cannabis”, seen as a harmless drug that was being used by large groups of friends.

“It’s considered one of the cool things to do,” he added. “And there is unbelievable pressure in the student community – especially among lads.”

He said he had seen the dark side of the drug. People he knew who used it had become reckless and impervious to pain, falling and gashing limbs without realising. One bought methedrone cut with speed, which had sent him into convulsions.

President of the Student Union James Ricci said while he wasn’t aware of that, the use of mephedrone was not uncommon in the student population.

He said: “I don’t know how rife it is, but I know on a couple of nights out I’ve seen people who freely admit to doing it, and it isn’t those people who’d you’d associate with the whole drugs culture.”

He said the ‘legal’ tag led people to think “that makes it OK then.”

Mephedrone is readily available online, where it is commonly sold under the guise of “plant feed.”

An Internet search showed it could be bought with “next day delivery” for £12 a gram from a supplier in Bournemouth calling themselves Mr Meph.

Usually a white or yellowish powder it is snorted by users, but can also be obtained in pills and capsules. Side-effects include headaches, palpitations, nausea, high blood pressure, nose bleeds and purple joints.

It was linked with the death of a 14-year-old in Brighton last November. In the wake of the latest deaths pressure is mounting for urgent action.

Yesterday head teachers, MPs and drugs campaigners called for it and other so called ‘legal highs’ to be banned.