Mephedrone crackdown gets under way

Trading standards officers in North Yorkshire are carrying out spot-checks of stores and on-line retailers to prevent the sale of the drug, which has been linked to as many as 25 deaths in England and Wales.

Home Secretary Alan Johnson has written to local authorities across the country, including North Yorkshire County Council's trading standards department, calling for help to tackle the sale of the so-called legal high.

Mr Johnson vowed last week to outlaw the drug, which is also known as M-Cat, Meow Meow or Plant Food and gives a similar high to ecstasy.

North Yorkshire County Council's executive member for trading standards, Councillor Clare Wood, said: "The Home Secretary has pointed out that mephedrone consumption can cause hallucinations, blood circulation problems, rashes, anxiety, paranoia, fits and delusions.

"Therefore our trading standards officers will do all that is possible to make sure our residents and young people are protected from dangerous substances by enforcing existing legislation to stop mephedrone being advertised in this seemingly innocent way."

Mephedrone has emerged as the drug of choice for many involved in the UK's dance music scene, but it has been linked to several recent deaths.

Nicholas Smith, 19, from Winterton, near Scunthorpe in North Lincolnshire, died along with his friend Louis Wainwright, 18, on March 15 following a night out in the town after apparently taking mephedrone.

In another case, Lois Waters, 24, was found dead at a friend's house in Norton, near Malton, on March 22. Officers confirmed she had taken mephedrone in the house before her death.