The low down on mephedrone in Middlesbrough

UK drug charity Lifeline has been carrying out research in Middlesbrough into the use of mephedrone. The research involved focus groups of mephedrone users most of whom regarded the drug as superior to cocaine and ecstasy. Just over half of the users bought it over the Internet with the rest buying it in nightclubs. The drug was regarded as a stimulant and a hallucinogen and the majority of users mixed it with alcohol or cannabis to heighten its effects or ease the comedown. Most users swallowed the drug as snorting it can lead to painful nose burns. Few side effects were reported by the users although these included erratic heart beats, dry mouth and shrunken genitals.

You can download a copy of the Lifeline report at

http://www.lifeline.org.uk/feature.php?idnum=76