OUR campaign to ban the drug mephedrone is gathering pace after more people signed The Press petition, writes Jennifer Bell.

The Menace Of Mephedrone campaign aims to outlaw the drug and our petition calling for it to be banned has now passed 200 signatures.

Meanwhile, more evidence of the devastating impact of the “legal high” continued to be given to The Press.

One mother, who did not want to be named, said: “My 16-year-old has used this drug but says he has only taken it a few times. He has actually been accused by the parents of his mates of selling it and I have had money stolen as well. He has been doing well at college and working, but this drug is taking over our teenagers and it isn’t good. I already have one son who smokes grass and I am now wondering where I have gone wrong.” She said she was a single parent who worked hard to look after her children but felt she was to blame.

“My son says if us parents didn’t have a go at our kids then they wouldn’t feel the need to take the drug,” she said. “Most of his mates are taking it.”

“This drug needs making illegal and quickly because it is doing so much damage to teenagers and their families.

“I have a 12-year-old and a two-year-old as well, so this is affecting them, especially my 12-year-old.”

• Do you have a story about “legal highs” such as mephedrone?

Phone Jennifer Bell on 01904 653051 extension 315 or email jennifer.bell@thepress.co.uk