'Frankenstein' drug meow meow 'screws the mind up'
A LLANELLI drugs worker has launched an ambitious campaign to reclassify a "Frankenstein drug" that is sweeping the town.
Alan Andrews, chief executive of Chooselife Wales, is determined to rid the streets of Llanelli of mephedrone, or meow meow as it is commonly known, after seeing the devastating effects it can have on users.
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Alan Andrews, chief executive of Chooselife Wales, is leading the call for signatures.
Mr Andrews has started an online petition in a bid to change the substance from a Class B drug — equal to cannabis or amphetamine — to Class A — the same category as heroin and cocaine.
To be successful, 100,000 people need to sign the petition within the next 12 months — and the Star is right behind those efforts as part of our own campaign, launched this week, to help tackle the town's growing problem.
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"It will be difficult, but if everyone put the link on their Facebook and just two friends signed it we could do it," Mr Andrews said.
"We might be a town that has not had the best reputation for drugs, but let's now be the town that makes a difference across the UK. Something has to be changed in the classification of the drug and the perception of it. There is a perception with young people that they wouldn't consider themselves to be a drug user and that it's an OK drug — then they'll try it for the first time. "If someone was asked after a few drinks to try heroin they would say no chance, but it's different with mephedrone.
"I'd put them in the same bracket because heroin affects the body, but mephedrone destroys the mind.
Scary
"It's a slippery slope when you start playing with the mind, and sometimes there's no return from it."
Through Chooselife and its work, Mr Andrews comes face to face with the reality of drugs use, and said the speed at which mephedrone can take its toll on a user was scary.
"We know someone who used it for four weeks and they had to be admitted to a psychiatric unit," he said.
"They didn't even know who their close friends or family were — that's how much it had affected their mind.
"There are a lot of stories from around the UK which are similar to this. Myself and other agencies are dealing with people who are in psychosis from using the drug."
Adding to Mr Andrews's concern is the age at which some users start taking the drug, with some reportedly embarking on the slippery slope while still in primary school.
"People are taking it so young because it's so easily accessible," he said. "A message needs to go out that this drug is not OK.
"Heroin is grown naturally, but this is created in a factory — it's a Frankenstein drug and nobody knows fully what the effects are.
"It can screw with the mind like no drug before, and that's my biggest fear."
To sign the petition visit http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/37966.
Comments
by lucythomas
Sunday, September 09 2012, 1:05AM
“This is the start to a chemical warfare.”
by formulafreddy
Wednesday, September 05 2012, 8:53PM
“A class-B drug is subject to prohibition. A class-A drug is also subject to prohibition. As far as most drugs users and dealers are concerned there is no difference between the two. Instead of flogging a dead horse and trying even harder with a stupid policy that obviously hasn't and isn't working how about trying something different like regulating the supply of drugs we know are relatively safe such as MDMA.”
by gorseboy
Wednesday, September 05 2012, 8:34PM
“scoking
Perhaps a change of name to STOKING because you're unfounded,unsubstantiated remark will only stir up trouble. huwwuh is known for his stupid attempts at put downs.Don't join him.”
by david121
Wednesday, September 05 2012, 2:27PM
“huwwuh.....Yes he may be an EX drug taker, but who better to help sort our young people out??.. He can tell them all the pitfalls of taking drugs and the other problems that drugs can cause from his own past.....who do you think they would listen to more someone who has been in their position or someone who has never taken anything stronger than an asprin???.........If I were in their position I know who I would trust to help me........”
by lucythomas
Wednesday, September 05 2012, 2:17PM
“was being the appropriate word too”
by hacker_jack
Wednesday, September 05 2012, 1:49PM
“A or B makes no difference. Yes classifying it as an A may put pushers off selling it, they will simply find something else instead, probably something far nastier as new chemical combinations are tried to get around all the ones currently in Class A. Lest we forget that Methedrone is only really a thing because it wasnt illegal to start with.
The ONLY solution is to get at the cause, stop people wanting to use the stuff in the first place. That is not achieved by worrying about classification.”
by lucythomas
Wednesday, September 05 2012, 1:43PM
“Why is he a hypocrite? isn't anyone allowed to make mistakes and forget about them in this town? no wonder it's such a mess. nobody lets anybodies pasts go.the past is gone for goodness sake”
by scoking
Wednesday, September 05 2012, 1:38PM
“This guy is the biggset hypocrite around! Should practice what he preaches before going round doing things like petitions”
by lucythomas
Wednesday, September 05 2012, 1:36PM
“huwwuh alan andrews does more for this town than half the authorities which gladly back him up,does it matter what he looks like,at least he's doing something to help this town and the addicts in it to rid it of this horrid drug.maybe you should stop being so judemental and go visit choose life and see just exactly how much he has done and is still doing.if only more were like him,the town and world would be a better place.the people that judge him are as bad as the dealers.shush and do something yourself to help this tragic town instead of reading about it in the paper and judging”
by david121
Wednesday, September 05 2012, 12:31PM
“.....huwwuth...... A barbed remark like this about a man that is trying to help people get off drugs and equally not to take drugs is I feel totally unjustified. If you think you can put as much effort, time and perseverance into getting people off drugs go and give this chap your help not your cheap remarks!!!”