'I feared he was going to die': Mum of former M-Cat user to warn East Yorkshire schoolchildren of danger
TEENAGERS as young as 13 have been caught taking an illegal drug, with some stealing off their families to fund their addiction.
One policeman told the Mail he has had several experiences of teenagers stealing from their parents to pay for the Class B drug mephedrone, known as M-Cat.
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ILLEGAL HIGH: Mephedrone, also known as M-Cat.
The mother of one teenager who used to take the drug, who does not wish to be named, is to share her ordeal with young people to warn them of the dangers of the illegal high.
"I think it is an issue right across the board in East Yorkshire," said the 46-year-old mum.
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"It is so widespread that I don't think it would take much imagination to find a dealer.
"The problem is the drug is so accessible and very cheap."
The drug is a powerful stimulant and is part of the cathinone family, which is closely related to amphetamines, methamphetamine and ecstasy.
Although there is little evidence about what long-term effects the drug has, there have been reports of people hospitalised due to the short-term effects.
The mother, whose son is 16, is calling for greater education in schools.
She said: "Being legal in the past, people think it's harmless, but, psychologically, it is as addictive as the harder drugs.
"Users of M-Cat can behave the same way as a heroin addict, selling things or being dishonest.
"People know it is illegal, but they don't know how harmful it is.
"There needs to be more education and the issues need to be out in the open. Schools have got to help deal with the problem."
The main effects of M-Cat include everything from feelings of euphoria to anxiety and paranoia. It can also lead to the heart and nervous system being overstimulated.
The mother questioned her 16-year-old son when she saw leaflets on drug advice.
She said: "I was absolutely devastated when he told me.
"First thing I was thinking was that he was going to die.
"You have to take control. It is tough love.
"I got in touch with all the external agencies, police, school and all his friends' parents to let them know what had happened.
"He said he had been using it for a couple of weeks.
"At the end of the day, the parents wanted to hear what had happened. No one wants to lose their child via drugs.
"M-Cat would probably lose its effect after a while and the users would move onto heavier stuff.
"I want to keep an eye out for the kids and highlight the widespread problem. You never know it might help save a life."
Possession of M-Cat is illegal and can be punished by up to five years in jail and an unlimited fine. Supplying someone else can get up to 14 years in jail and an unlimited fine.
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9 Comments
by susieb10
Wednesday, January 30 2013, 9:37AM
“I have 4 children and one easy way to solve any problem of worrying about what your kids are doing, look after them. My children are 14 to 17 and I have always known where they were or what they were doing. They NEVER joined in gangs on street corners or shop doors, if they went to a friends we dropped them off and picked them up at the time agreed. We still do this with them now. I don't give them pocket money as such, but if they want to go to cinema I let them go with their friends, if they want anything from shop I buy them it, kids don't need lots of money each week to waste on rubbish, my oldest is now given money, but she is 17 almost 18 and she takes the majority of what she is given to the bank. As parents, if children weren't given so much money or allowed to do as they wanted without punishment then the kids wouldn't have the funds for these drugs.”
by red_dog
Tuesday, January 29 2013, 2:41PM
“Jewish people living longer has got nothing to do with smoking, it's the body cleaning fluid they drink most days, chicken soup.”
by Danepark
Tuesday, January 29 2013, 2:36PM
“Make all drugs legal and then tax them like they do tobacco and alcohol. The money saved just on police time dealing with drug crime would run into 100s of millions of pounds.”
by fdsbfadhsh
Tuesday, January 29 2013, 1:30PM
“Course you did Arrogate, open a window pal.”
by Arrogate
Tuesday, January 29 2013, 1:09PM
“@fdsbfadhsh
I watched a program on bbc it was jewish old people in the state of New York a lot of them live until they are over 100 years old, and they all smoked 40 a day for 60 years. So your theory on smoking is just wrong what are these people super human i think not, its to do with their genes either your dna strands corrode young or old either way everyone is on a time limit. Your just scared about dying and spreading your own insecurities to everyone around you, we all die its not such a big deal.”
by fdsbfadhsh
Tuesday, January 29 2013, 12:41PM
“I absolutely guarantee that more of todays 13 year olds will die in the future from smoking related illnesses than from using any other type of drug apart from alcohol perhaps. Reversing the effects of smoking are a lot harder than you seem to realise.
Teens die after taking alcohol for the first time and yet there are their parents teaching them it's ok to use alcohol. Make your minds up.
I'd rather teach children that all drugs have their dangers and their uses, but I would rather list those dangers statistically and categorically than show them the hysterical media drivel that gets thrown about. If we did that we would be far more worried about the socially acceptable drugs,booze and fags, than any other drugs .
I fear my logic and reasoning will fall on the ears of the deaf and the dumb, at least on this rag site anyhow.....”
by Adam089
Tuesday, January 29 2013, 12:06PM
“fdsbfadsh - you absolute fool. MCat is not 'relatively harmless' as you put it - it is a huge danger, especially to teenagers as young as 13 who seem to be taking it.
Yes smoking is bad and can kill, but the effects from smoking can be sorted out if you stop in enough time, whereas you can die from MCat as soon as it has been taken.
If you have children and this is how you raise them, teaching them that you'd rather they take an illegal banned substance which can kill nearly instantly, than smoke, I feel sorry for them!”
by David_Nivea
Tuesday, January 29 2013, 11:00AM
“"The problem is the drug is so accessible and very cheap."
The other problem of course, is that there is no actual deterrent, agencies preferring to 'work with' or 'work towards' some solution, rather than wielding the big stick and ridding society of this menace.
"People know it is illegal..." yet they still take it. Thus, they should forfeit any right to leniency if/when caught.
How many people ever receive the maximum sentence, for example?”
by fdsbfadhsh
Tuesday, January 29 2013, 10:52AM
“Yeah yeah, I would wager that the number of children that steal from their parents to buy ciggies is a much higher figure. But no headlines on that because for some strange reason they are legal. After all, they only kill many more people globally than illegal drugs ever could. Ditto booze.
But ma and pa enjoy a tipple and 20 B&H a day so it's ok.
I'd also be concerned about the hundreds of thousands of legal drug addict mothers and grandmothers that are popping those little energy boosters the nice doctor gives them every couple of months.
Wake up darlings, do I want my kids taking M-cat et al? No of course not but I would rather they dabbled in something relatively harmless than smoke 20 fags a day, they WILL kill you.
Where the lady says ""M-Cat would probably lose its effect after a while and the users would move onto heavier stuff," is she talking about larger and Lambert and Butler?”