Pressure grows for mephedrone ban after deaths of two teenagers

There was mounting pressure today for the "legal high" drug mephedrone to be banned after it was linked to the deaths of two teenagers.

Police said they believed the drug - which has become popular in the club scene - contributed to the deaths of Louis Wainwright, 18, and Nicholas Smith (pictured), 19. They died on Monday after a night out in Scunthorpe.

After police urged anyone who had taken the drug to go to hospital, teaching leaders said mephedrone was as dangerous as Class A drugs like heroin and cocaine and the Government should seriously consider a ban.

Mick Brooks, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, told the BBC: "This drug clearly has the same inherent dangers as any Class A drug and I think serious consideration should be given to banning it.

"The problem with that is that you then criminalise the people who take it, so we need to think very carefully about what we do, but act with some speed."

Three people are being quizzed by police over the deaths of the two teenagers, who died within hours of each other.

Nicholas's father, retied firefighter Tony, urged youngsters to avoid the drug, which is known by various names, including "M-CAT", "MC", and "meow".

He told The Sun: "We don't know much about what happened but we think he's been taking this drug on a night out.

"I don't want him to be labelled a druggie because he wasn't. He was just on a night out with friends, a normal, caring, hard-working lad.

"I don't want any other family to go through this or any other kids to die because of this."

A 26-year-old man, a 20-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy were arrested in connection with the deaths.

One of the arrested men was taken to hospital after being thought to have taken the drug. He was released into custody with no symptoms, police said.

A male and female who attended hospital earlier have also been released without any symptoms.

A further three people admitted themselves to hospital and were being examined.

Officers in the area urged anyone who has taken the drug to go to hospital "as a matter of urgency".

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Oliver, senior investigating officer, said: "We have information to suggest these deaths are linked to M-CAT.

"We would encourage anyone who may have taken the drug or knows somebody who has taken the drug to attend a local hospital as a matter of urgency.

"Anyone who knows somebody who has possession of the drug, we would encourage them to either hand it into a local police station or dispose of the substance as soon as possible and contact Humberside Police."

A police spokeswoman added: "This substance is very dangerous and it is important that anyone who has taken it contacts their local GP or hospital immediately."

Mr Wainwright was pronounced dead at his home in Low Burgage, Winteringham, at noon on Monday, prompting a police probe.

Officers received a second call a few hours later in connection with the death of Mr Smith on Redbourne Street, in Scunthorpe.

The UK Government has asked the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to carry out an assessment on mephedrone. Council members are reportedly due to discuss it on March 29.

Mephedrone is usually a white or yellowish powder, which is snorted, but can also be obtained in pills and capsules.

The side-effects include headaches, palpitations, nausea, high blood pressure, a burning throat, nose bleeds and purple joints, especially the knees and hands.

Other side-effects are said to include psychosis, weight loss and insomnia.

Earlier this month authorities on the Channel Island of Guernsey said they were considering classifying the "legal high" as a Class A drug.

Drug officials on the island said they were looking at "proactive" action and island authorities were conducting their own research into the drug's effects.

Shadow home secretary Chris Grayling said there was a "strong case" for banning "legal highs" such as mephedrone and promised an urgent review if the Conservatives took power at the general election.

"I think there needs to be a very urgent review. We would certainly embark on that if we were successful at the election, with a view to banning some of these substances.

"They do appear to be creating a real issue for us," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"We should be saying to expert groups 'We think there is a strong case for banning this, are we right?'."