What is Meow Meow
Meow Meow is the street name for Mephedrone.
The drug is often referred to as drone, bubble or M-Kat.
Mephedrone is a synthetic stimulant that is made in Chinese laboratories and imported.
Mephedrone is readily available to buy legally over the internet and can also be found on sites that promote the sale of drug paraphernalia.
It is often advertised and sold as a plant food or bath salts but according to the Mail Online the reality is the chemical formula of Mephedrone is only two molecular tweaks from pure ecstasy.
Mephedrone can come in a variety of forms including, capsules and powder for snorting or injecting.
The downside of popularity
Recent stories in the news have highlighted an increasing worldwide problem.
Mephedrone became the fourth most popular drug on the streets in the UK in 2009 usually popular amongst clubbers and young people.
A survey carried out by Mixmag found that one in three clubbers use Mephedrone and Dr Adam Winstock from the National Addiction Centre has claimed, ‘It’s come from nowhere to become very popular’.
Dr Ramsey, a toxicologist at St Georges University London, agrees that the use of Mephedrone is indeed a cause for concern.
He was quoted to have said; "People end up in A&E because they take stimulants, and they end up in A&E because they take these chemicals’’.
He went on to explain we lack knowledge of the toxicity of Mephedrone because of the short period of time in which it has gained such popularity.
He then claimed, "The only real reports we get are from people who either write them up in chat rooms or discussion groups, or end up in A&E."
Dr Ramsey touched on another area which is significant in the increase of Mephedrone on the streets. He said "People are making absolutely huge amounts of money out of these drugs'’.
Apparently, a kilo can be bought for £2,500, sold for £10 a gram, thus making a profit of around £7,500 – a fantastic incentive for drug dealers!
The increased popularity of Mephedrone means, young people who had probably never dabbled in drugs before may decide to indulge in the drug because of its availability and the belief that, if it were legal, it must be safe.
More worryingly, according to Chief Constable Tim Hollis, spokesperson for the Association of Chief Police Officers, many of the young users are school children!
The Meow Meow effect
As with any drug, Mephedrone has serious side effects.
Aside from increased alertness, Mephedrone can cause paranoia, fits, dilated pupils, abnormal heart beats and depression.
The National Addiction Centre in the UK conducted a survey and discovered 51% of Mephedrone users reported to have suffered from headaches whilst 43% had heart palpitations, 27% suffered with nausea and 15% had cold or blue fingers.
Another major side effect of Mephedrone use is hallucinations.
Shockingly, in November last year, it was reported that a young lad from Durham had taken Mephedrone and had begun to hallucinate.
During the 18 hour hallucination period, he ripped off his own scrotum because he believed centipedes were crawling all over his body and biting him.
Although an extreme reaction a true one nonetheless which highlights the severity and potential of the drug.
It is also worth noting, as a result of hallucinations, the onset of mental illness may occur.
Prolonged use of the drug may also cause impotence.
Is a ban the way forward?
On 7 April 2010 the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Amendment) Order 2010 was passed by parliament, making Mephedrone and other substituted cathinones Class B drugs from 16 April 2010
It is questionable as to whether Parliaments decision to act so quickly and ban Mephedrone was merely a result of political pressure.
Official members of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) seem to think so after its seventh member (Mr Eric Carlin) resigned on the 2nd April.
Quitting just 4 days after the ACMD had advised Mephedrone should be classified as a Class B drug, Mr Carlin confirmed his concerns in a letter to Alan Johnson. He said ‘We had little or no discussion about how our recommendation to classify this drug would be likely to impact on young people’s behaviour. Our decision was unduly based on media and political pressure.”
Mr Carlin went on to say ‘’As well as being extremely unhappy with how the ACMD operates, I am not prepared to continue to be part of a body which, as its main activity, works to facilitate the potential criminalisation of increasing numbers of young people."
Days prior to the departure of Mr Carlin, Dr Polly Taylor (another member of the ACMD) had also resigned stating in her resignation letter; “I feel that there is little more we can do to describe the importance of ensuring that advice is not subjected to a desire to please ministers or the mood of the day's press.”
The decision to ban Mephedrone has divided members of the ACMD and the public too.
Although the ban is deemed necessary in the interest of the public, there are arguments that suggest banning it, would not only criminalise the young people that may take it but, to remove the accessibility of it legally would result in drug dealers and traffickers being left to supply which could bring about more issues and concerns.
Junior Home Office Minister Alan Campbell has spoken in the House of Commons about the seriousness of Mephedrone and its side effects.
He was quoted to have said ‘Law enforcement would initially concentrate on those who peddled these "harmful" drugs, rather than young people found in possession’.
Mr Campbell’s statement clearly suggests the emphasis would be on those that supply Mephedrone and not those that abuse but in reality, would this really be the case?
Surely the aim of classifying any drug would be the same – to prevent victims and clamp down on suppliers?
According to Councillor Paul Bettison, Chairman of the Local Government Association one thing for certain is the use of Mephedrone is on the increase and something needs to be done to stop it. Paul said: "Councils are seeing more Mephedrone users and their families are turning to them for help, advice and support and it will be a relief to many people to see the substance made illegal."
During a recent meeting, chair of the ACMD, Professor Les Iversen was quoted to have said: "I have never experienced such a widespread use in such a short space of time. There is no question this is the drug of the moment."
The real question should be...what next?
So, as of today, Friday 16th April 2010, there will be an official ban on the substance, Mephedrone.
After this date, should anyone be found supplying the drug, they could face up to 14 years in prison whilst possession carries a maximum sentence of 5 years.
Ahead of the ban, Trading Standards officers have been working to rid retailers of Mephedrone.
The Local Government Association has given retailers the opportunity to voluntarily dispose of their supplies of Mephedrone before it becomes an offence to stock it.
Councillor Paul Bettison commented "Council staff have not being idle ahead of the change in the rules. Work has been taking place to ensure supplies of Mephedrone are handed over to the authorities so that this potentially damaging drug is cleared from shelves as quickly as possible."
Once the ban is in place, the law will focus on making it harder for people to obtain Mephedrone.
Professor David Nutt suggested the regulation of Mephedrone in a controlled environment such as clubs, could be one of the most effective ways forward.
How realistic is Professor Nutt’s opinion considering he was sacked for making a point that ecstasy was less harmful than alcohol?
Maybe his point is valid, could control be the way forward?
Perhaps consideration could have been given to creating a new Class, much like the approach used in New Zealand’s creation of Class D? This classification acts as a holding category until the drug is understood and investigated further. Whilst in this category the drug is quality controlled and regulated.
However we look at it, we can be certain Mephedrone will not disappear so easily.
Improved education surrounding the use of drugs and its effects would help to minimize its use and attraction to young people in particular.
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