THE ravaging effects of taking mephedrone have been described to The Press by a 27-year-old woman from York who says the drug was ”extremely addictive”.

Anna has been taking the legal high for four months and described the drug as “an immediate rush” – but said it took her days to recover.

She said: “I first used it when it was recommended by a friend.

“I was told the effects were similar to ecstasy or cocaine – a buzz that keeps you up for hours – but completely legal.”

After sampling the drug she said she felt “really hot and my heart was pounding”.

Describing the aftermath of the drug, she said: “I couldn’t remember a lot about it the night before and it is worrying when you get memory loss. You can feel quite ill after it.”

Another user, a 28-year-old, from Teesdale, County Durham, said he ended up on suicide watch in a psychiatric hospital after bingeing on the drug.

The man, who wanted to remain anonymous, said mephedrone was even more addictive than cocaine, which he had also taken.

He spent a week at West Park psychiatric hospital, in Darlington, after taking the substance, when his behaviour led to him being picked up by the police.