Woldgate College head, Jeff Bower, ‘delighted’ by mephedrone campaign (From York Press)

Woldgate College head, Jeff Bower, ‘delighted’ by mephedrone campaign

10:24am Thursday 22nd April 2010 in

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THE Press campaign made a “significant contribution” to raising awareness about the drug and changing the law, according to the head of the East Yorkshire school where a teenager collapsed after taking the drug.

Jeff Bower, head teacher at Woldgate College, in Pocklington, said he had been 100 per cent behind The Press campaign from the start.

“I was in at the launch of The Press’s Menace of Mephedrone campaign and I supported it 100 per cent,” Mr Bower said.

“I think it has made a significant contribution to awareness and education and a change in the law. I was delighted that the ban has come and so quickly.”

The Press launched its campaign after a teenager collapsed at the school earlier this year.

“The incident we had in college made us acutely aware very suddenly of M-CAT,” Mr Bower said.

“My concerns were four-fold – firstly it was legal, secondly it was cheap and easy to get hold of, thirdly using it was potential fatal and fourthly it was being talked up as something very exciting. This seemed to be a lethal combination.”

While Mr Bower backs the ban, however, he accepts it creates fresh problems.

“There is a danger that the ban will now make it perversely more attractive and exciting and we are kidding ourselves if we think otherwise,” he said.

“However, it will drive the price up and make it less available and, by raising its profile, it will help to educate everybody, including parents, of the dangers.

“No doubt something will arrive which takes M-CAT’s place – however, that is no argument against banning M-CAT.”