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Police warn youngsters of heart risks from 'miaow' legal drug
YOUNGSTERS in a South Yorkshire town are experimenting with a dangerous new drug which can make them aggressive and lead to heart problems.
Police say they have been called to a number of incidents in Barnsley believed to involve young people becoming aggressive after taking 4-methylmethcathinone - known on the streets as M-CAT, Meow, Miaow, MCAT and 4-MMC.
The drug is a mixture of a plant fertilising agent and the stimulant cathinone found in the khat plant and has not yet been classified as illegal.
Police say youngsters may believe the drug is safe because it is a so-called legal-high – but they warn it can make users aggressive, leads to cravings, and has side-effects including heart palpitations and nose-bleeds.
Drug workers in the town are speaking to young people about the dangers of the drug.
Chf Supt Andy Brooke, Barnsley's district commander and chairman of the town's Drug and Alcohol Action Team board, said: "So-called legal highs are incredibly dangerous.
"Possessing a combination of chemicals used as plant food may not be seen as illegal yet but we cannot underestimate the dangers of eating or inhaling it.
"In ordinary circumstances people would not abuse their bodies in such a way and we have a duty to protect Barnsley residents and inform people that just because it has been repackaged and rebranded by very irresponsible individuals, these are still chemicals used agriculturally and are not designed for human consumption.
"If we find people in possession of unexplained substances and have reason to suspect that this could be a controlled drug, we will arrest and detain them."
Three 18-year-old men were arrested in Barnsley town centre in the early hours of Sunday on suspicion of possessing a controlled drug with intent to supply after 10 wraps of white power were found in their car.
Tests are being carried out to establish whether the drug is M-CAT.
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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