Young Adults in the North West Consuming Cheap Drug ‘Bubble’ Following Mephedrone ban

LONDON, November 9, 2011 -

Angelus Advisory Board member Fiona Meacham and her team at Lancaster University released the following press release on Monday November 7 2011: 

Young adults in the north west of England have turned to unidentified white powders following the ban on former ‘legal high’ mephedrone and the falling purity of popular street drugs such as cocaine, according to new research published today in the journal Drug and Alcohol Today.

These white powders are called by the generic term ‘bubble’ and because their exact content is unclear they could pose a greater risk to public health. Bubble seems to be a north west and Scottish phenomenon.

The research suggests a rapidly changing drugs market with these cheap stimulants emerging and often used in conjunction with other popular illegal drugs.

Drs Measham and Moore of Lancaster University surveyed at random over two hundred young adults across four Lancashire towns and cities, Lancaster, Preston, Burnley and Chorley, about their drug use to see how it had changed in the seven months following the ban on mephedrone in April 2010. They found that young adults were pursuing the stimulant effects of bubble, but were uncertain and often also unconcerned about its content and risks.

Dr Measham said: “We found that one in ten of the young adults questioned had taken mephedrone within the past year and one in twenty within the past month. In the case of the next generation of ‘legal highs’, no clear substitute for mephedrone has emerged. Instead, there was uncertainty, confusion and a degree of disinterest. In this vacuum, bubble has emerged and evolved as a generic term used in the north of England to refer to any unknown white powders which are synthetic stimulants.”

The findings of the study, funded by Lancashire Drug and Alcohol Action Team (LDDAT), also calls into question reports that mephedrone acted as a ‘gateway drug’ for young adults who had never before consumed illicit drugs. Instead Drs Measham and Moore found that where it remains available, former ‘legal high’ mephedrone has been added to the ‘polydrug repertoires’ of already experienced drug users. Drug users in the north west are taking mephedrone and Bubble as well as rather than instead of popular illegal drugs such ecstasy pills, cocaine and amphetamines.

Dr Moore explained: “Street mephedrone, ‘bubble’ and generic pills and powders signals the reappearance of drugs with predominately stimulant effects that carry little of the ‘celebrity culture’ kudos of powder cocaine or premium quality MDMA. We could be witnessing the renaissance of ‘cheap and cheerful’ stimulants appropriate to our ‘age of austerity’. This rapidly changing drug market poses particular challenges for already hard-pressed drug services catering for teenagers and young adults.”

The research underscores the work Angelus is doing trying to raise awareness of the dangers of club drugs such as bubble, which are turned into white pills and powders from unidentifiable leftovers.  They are unscrupulously put together by dealers with the sole aim of making vast profits, without caring that they are endangering the wellbeing, and possibly even the lives of millions of young people.  As bubble is legal many young people naturally think its safe, but nothing could be further from the truth.  ”Taking substances like bubble is tantamount to playing Russian roulette with your life.  Young people have no idea of the risks they are taking when they take what they think is a ‘legal’ high and their parents have no clue about the dangers their teenagers face in the name of fun,” said Maryon Stewart, founder of the Angelus Foundation, set to raise awareness about the dangers of legal highs following the death of her 21 year old medical student daughter Hester who died 2 years ago after consuming GBL.

Contact:
For further information please contact:
Maryon Stewart at the Angelus Foundation on M: +44(0)7973-713139
maryonstewart@angelusfoundation.com

Holly Sutton at Journalista
T: +44(0)20-7232-4671
M: +44(0)7966280542
E: holly@journalista.co.uk

To arrange an interview with Dr Fiona Measham, Senior Lecturer in Criminology, or Dr Karenza Moore Lecturer in Criminology contact Lancaster University press office        
+44(0)1524-594120/593719
v.tyrrell@alancaster.ac.uk
b.broomby@lancaster.ac.uk

Dr Karenza Moore                    +44(0)1524-593570    +44(0)7790-036499
Lecturer in Criminology                Karenza.Moore@lancaster.ac.uk

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