More in hospital after using 'legal high' drug

NEW calls have been made to ban mephedrone after a hospital near the town where a young woman died after taking the deadly legal high confirmed it has treated a number of users in the past two weeks alone.

Police are still awaiting the results of toxicology tests on Lois Waters, 24, of Malton, North Yorkshire, who was found dead at a friend's house after taking the drug during a weekend out with friends.

Residents say the dangerous and highly addictive drug, also known as M-Cat or Meow Meow and sold as a 'plant food', has swamped the small market town in recent months with users as young as 15 becoming commonplace.

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Now nearby Scarborough Hospital says it has admitted a number of people who have had health scares after taking the drug in the past few weeks alone.

A hospital spokesman confirmed: "We have treated several patients who have taken mephedrone within the last two weeks. Two weekends ago we had three separate cases.

"It seems that a lot of people are taking mephedrone before they go out drinking.

"The drug allows them to consume more alcohol and not feel the effects.

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"The mephedrone then wears off and the alcohol kicks in and that's often why they find themselves in A&E."

Following the death off Miss Waters, Gordon Brown has announced he will take immediate action to ban the drug if his drug advisors recommend it be outlawed next week.

During Prime Minister's question time yesterday, Mr Brown said: "The advice is clear that just because the substance is legal it doesn't make it safe.

"But we are very concerned specifically about the harms of mephedrone, and the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs is considering this and similar compounds as an absolute priority.

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"We will receive their advice on March 29 and, subject to their advice, we will take immediate action.

"We are determined to act to prevent this evil hurting the young people of this country."

The Government has been criticised for not acting faster to outlaw the drug, which has also been linked to the deaths of Louis Wainwright, 18, and Nicholas Smith, 19, in the Scunthorpe area last week.

Robert Goodwill, Conservative MP for Scarborough and Whitby, who asked a parliamentary question on February 8 asking for action to be taken on legal highs, said: "We know they are not safe and they should be moving on this faster.

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"The number of people admitted to Scarborough Hospital is a real cause for concern and the death of Miss Waters an utter tragedy.

"Malton is a quiet market town and mephedrone is not something that is restricted to big cities.

"This drug is in every town up and down the country and people can buy it with complete impunity.

"The first thing we need to do is to get the message out to parents and younger people that it is not safe and they should not be experimenting with drugs of this type.

"We ned to act on mephedrone now."

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The body of Miss Waters, who has two older sisters and worked at the Malton Bacon Factory, was found by police on Monday morning in Riverside View, in the neighbouring town of Norton.

Police say an inquest is expected to open into her death today.

Post-mortem and toxicology examinations on her body are being carried out and police say other drugs were also found at the scene.

Family and friends say Miss Waters had started taking mephedrone regularly in the weeks leading up to her death.

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The Government's chief drugs advisor, Professor Les Iverson, has described the death as a tragedy and indicated to the Home Affairs Committee on Tuesday he will be recommending a future ban of the drug.