Mephedrone link to party man’s death (From York Press)

Mephedrone link to party man’s death

8:59am Tuesday 16th February 2010 in

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A MAN is believed to have died after taking the “legal high” drug mephedrone which The Press is campaigning to have banned.

Friends of John Sterling Smith, 46, who were partying with him at his flat in Hove, Brighton, called an ambulance when he fell suddenly ill.

His friends tried reviving him and paramedics continued to give him CPR, but he died from a cardiac arrest before he could be taken to hospital.

Detectives investigating his death believe he had taken mephedrone, also known as meow, miaow miaow and MM-Cat in the hours prior to his death.

Detective Sergeant Steve French, of Brighton and Hove CID, said they were investigating whether Mr Smith died from an overdose of the substance, which is sold legally on the internet as plant food for as little as £3 a dose.

The drug has become increasingly popular among young people in North and East Yorkshire.

DS French said: “We believe meow may have been involved, but whether that was the cause of death or not, we don’t yet know.

“We think we have found something that looks like meow and we have sent a sample of a substance found at the address for analysis.”