Three held over 'mephedrone' deaths (From Haringey Independent)

Three held over 'mephedrone' deaths

4:43am Wednesday 17th March 2010 in

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Three people are being quizzed by police over the deaths of two teenagers who are believed to have taken the "legal high" mephedrone.

Humberside Police said they believed the drug had contributed to the deaths of Louis Wainwright, 18, and Nicholas Smith, 19, who had been out drinking together in Scunthorpe until the early hours of Monday.

A 26-year-old man, a 20-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy have been arrested in connection with the incident and remain in custody.

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

The deaths have intensified debate over the safety of mephedrone, which is legal in the UK but is subject to a Government safety investigation.

Mick Brooks, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said the Government should seriously consider banning mephedrone.

He 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."

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.

Mephedrone is known by various names, including "M-CAT", "MC", "mieow", "meow", "4MMC" or "plant fertiliser", and has become popular on the UK club scene in recent months. Side-effects include headaches, palpitations, nausea, high blood pressure, a burning throat, nose bleeds and purple joints, especially the knees and hands.