Coroner speaks out on mephedrone danger

Christopher Harrington, 20, and Kieran Kenny, 19, hanged themselves in woodland near their homes in Cramlington, Northumberland, last July.

Both had enough alcohol in their systems to theoretically put them well over the drink-drive limit and both were found to have mephedrone in their systems as well.

Coroner Paul Dunn recorded a verdict that both men took their own lives.

He stressed that there was no evidence taking mephedrone influenced their decision but it was important people realised there was evidence the drug carried a risk of self-harm or suicide.