Two die after taking mephedrone

by John Ashmore

Police are investigating the deaths of two teenagers who died this week after taking the controversial drug mephedrone.

Nicholas Smith, 18, and Louis Wainwright, 19, died following a night out in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire on Monday.

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said the government would "take any action that is needed...to avert such tragic consequences occurring in the future".

The National Association of Head Teachers general secretary, Mick Brookes, said that the drug “has the same inherent dangers as a class A drug”. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling called for an “urgent review” of so-called "legal highs".

The reported side-effects of mephedrone use include increased heart-rate, abnormal heartbeat and nausea.

Although banned in some countries, mephedrone, also known as ‘meow meow’, is legal in the UK and freely available on the Internet, where it is sold as plant fertiliser.