Mephedrone ban in UK

Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey has said that lives will be saved when the drug mephedrone is made illegal throughout the UK from tomorrow, Friday 16 April 2010.

Mephedrone has been classified as a Class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act which means, from tomorrow, it will be illegal to possess or supply the substance. Importing mephedrone was made illegal on 29 March.

Mr McGimpsey said: "I have been very concerned about the misuse of mephedrone in Northern Ireland. These ‘legal highs’ have proved to be lethal substances posing serious risks, particularly to our young people.
"The banning of mephedrone tomorrow reinforces the message that these drugs are not safe and may be potential killers. It is critical that we continue to inform and educate our young people and their parents about the real risks associated with taking drugs."

In March, the Minister contacted Home Secretary Alan Johnson and the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), expressing his concerns around the legal position of the drug and urging them to take immediate action.

The Minister continued: "Tomorrow’s move is particularly welcome because it goes further than just banning Mephedrone and includes a whole range of potentially similar drugs. This helps to address my concern that the UK must go further with drugs classification so that substances such as this can be controlled more quickly.

"However, I still believe that the Committee and the Home Office should consider what further actions could be taken, such as introducing an additional classification through which new drugs could be legally controlled while their harms are being assessed.

"My officials continue to work with health professionals, education and the Northern Ireland Office to look at what further action we need to take in this area to ensure that the public are informed about the dangers these drugs pose."

Notes to editors:

1. The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) is responsible for advising the UK Government on the measures to be taken with respect to drugs which are being, or appear to them are likely to be, misused and which are causing or may cause a social problem

2. Mephedrone, Methydrone, or methedrone (4-methymethcathinone) is a stimulant drug which is one of the cathinone group of drugs related to phenethylamines, the family of amphetamines compounds that includes ecstasy (MDMA). Whilst cathinone and some of its derivatives are already controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act, most of the substituted cathinones, including mephedrone, are not controlled

3. A Class B drug carries a penalty of up to five years in prison or an unlimited fine for possession and up to 14 years in prison for supplying the drug.

4. Further information on Mephedrone is available online.

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