A university in Liverpool has been slammed as 'irresponsible' over a study that will see 50 students being tested while taking the controversial drug mephedrone.
The drug, which is also known as M-Cat and Miaow Miaow, hit headlines after the deaths of Scunthorpe teenagers Louis Wainwright, 18, and Nicholas Smith, 19.
Many health experts and politicians have now called for the so-called "legal high" to be outlawed in Britain, following similar moves by a number of EU states.
Now Liverpool's John Moores University has sparked outrage amongst parents and politicians, after researchers called for fifty "guinea-pig" students to take part in an M-Cat experiment.
Liberal Democrat MP John Pugh, who represents Southport, Merseyside branded the study "highly irresponsible".
Dr Pugh said: "Following the deaths of two teenagers, apparently from this drug, and the subsequent announcement of a Government inquiry into its safety, it seems highly irresponsible for a University to be doing this."
The participants will take the drug, which comes as a white powder similar to other illegal substances such as cocaine, and will then be asked to describe their mood as the "high" kicks in.
The drug can be either snorted, or rubbed onto the tongue and gums, and is said to produce a high similar to cocaine or ecstasy.
It is currently available cheaply from high street retailers, where it is labelled as plant fertiliser.
Dr Cathy Montgomery, the psychology lecturer behind the reserach said: "During these tests, the university makes it clear they do not condone drug use.
"Until now, most evidence comes from people anecdotally. We will be holding structured interviews with users, asking them how they feel at different time points.
"They say it increases energy and improves their sociability. It also leads to goosebumps and increased heart rate, similar to ecstasy.
"Students here at John Moores tell us they prefer mephedrone over the drugs they were using before."
Brian, Sheffield around 2 years, 2 months ago