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| Schools urge action on legal drug | Schools urge action on legal drug |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Head teachers have called for urgent action over the legal drug mephedrone following the death of two teenagers. | Head teachers have called for urgent action over the legal drug mephedrone following the death of two teenagers. |
| The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) says it has the same dangers as any Class A drug and the government should consider a ban. | The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) says it has the same dangers as any Class A drug and the government should consider a ban. |
| Louis Wainwright, 18, and Nicholas Smith, 19, died on Monday after taking the drug. Police made three arrests. | Louis Wainwright, 18, and Nicholas Smith, 19, died on Monday after taking the drug. Police made three arrests. |
| The government has asked the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to examine the dangers and report back. | The government has asked the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to examine the dangers and report back. |
| Plant food | Plant food |
| NAHT general secretary, Mick Brookes, told the BBC the use of the drug had become more widespread. | |
| He said: "This drug clearly has the same inherent dangers as any Class A drug and I think serious consideration should be given to banning it. | He said: "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." | "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." |
| Some heads say the drug should be made illegal immediately - even if it risks some children getting a criminal record. | Some heads say the drug should be made illegal immediately - even if it risks some children getting a criminal record. |
| Schools have become increasingly worried that because the drug is legal, children as young as 12 are trying it. | Schools have become increasingly worried that because the drug is legal, children as young as 12 are trying it. |
| Marketed as plant food, it is called M-Cat, Mieow and Bubble on the streets. | Marketed as plant food, it is called M-Cat, Mieow and Bubble on the streets. |
| 'Palpitations' | 'Palpitations' |
| Websites selling the drug have told their customers it is a case of "when" not "if" mephedrone will be banned. | Websites selling the drug have told their customers it is a case of "when" not "if" mephedrone will be banned. |
| The two teenagers that died were found collapsed at their homes after a night out in Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire. | The two teenagers that died were found collapsed at their homes after a night out in Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire. |
| Humberside Police said the drug appeared to have contributed to their deaths. They had been out drinking in the hours before their deaths. | Humberside Police said the drug appeared to have contributed to their deaths. They had been out drinking in the hours before their deaths. |
| Two men, aged 26 and 20, and a 17-year-old boy have been arrested in connection with the incident. | Two men, aged 26 and 20, and a 17-year-old boy have been arrested in connection with the incident. |
| Post-mortem examinations are being carried out. | Post-mortem examinations are being carried out. |
| The substance has become popular on the UK club scene in recent months. Its side-effects are said to include psychosis, palpitations, burning throat, nose bleeds and insomnia. | The substance has become popular on the UK club scene in recent months. Its side-effects are said to include psychosis, palpitations, burning throat, nose bleeds and insomnia. |
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