Health Minister welcomes rapid action to ban dangerous drug

Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey has today welcomed the decision to make the drug Mephedrone illegal.

Home Secretary, Alan Johnson made the announcement today following advice from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD). Mephedrone and other cathinones will be classified as Class B drugs which means that people who possess the drugs face up to five years in prison or an unlimited fine while those caught dealing it could face up to 14 years in prison.

The Minister said he had spoken to Alan Johnson about the dangers of Mephedrone and the need for urgent action to make it illegal.

He said: Legal highs such as Mephedrone clearly pose a serious risk to the physical and mental health of our young people. I am pleased that the Home Secretary has promised to act quickly to ban this dangerous drug in order to protect people from harm.

When I spoke to the Home Secretary on Friday, I urged him to take immediate action and expressed my serious concerns about the potential serious risks for young people across the UK. Mephedrone is a potential killer and I asked that it be made illegal through classification under the Misuse of Drugs Act as soon as possible.”

Now that Mephedrone is being made illegal the Minister said he would ensure his Department responded immediately to introduce the new regulations needed to control this drug in Northern Ireland. He continued:

"Today’s announcement 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. 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."

The Minister concluded: Banning these drugs will reinforce the message that they are not safe. Even though Mephedrone is being made illegal, it will not be long before other drugs are manufactured to replace it. Young people and parents must be made aware about the risks of taking these ‘legal highs’.

"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 those drugs pose.”

An updated leaflet on Mephedrone including information on advice and support services is available on the nidirect website.

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-methylmethcathinone) is a stimulant drug which is one of the cathinone group of drugs related to phenethylamines, the family of amphetamine compounds that include 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. Mephedrone is currently it is not illegal to possess, but it is against the law to supply or advertise it for human consumption. Mephedrone can cause anxiety and paranoia (feelings of being persecuted), heart palpitations and fits or seizures. If snorted, it can lead to severe nosebleeds. Like many substances regular use can lead to the development of a compulsive habit.
4. Press enquiries to the DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 0575. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.