Cops Take Dim View of 'Sparkle' Drug

No sooner is one apparently dangerous drug made illegal when another pops up. Now, just days after Britain cracked down on the stimulant mephedrone following deaths linked to the drug, police are warning about the latest legal high, "Sparkle." The drug, dubbed "legal mephedrone," causes euphoria and boosted brain activity similar to ecstasy, reports the Independent. But health experts and law enforcement authorities are concerned because the drug's ingredients are shrouded in mystery.

"We are not fully aware of the full risks because there has been no research," warned a drug counselor. The problem is exacerbated because users often assume legal drugs are safe drugs. Police authorities have been deluged with reports from local precincts about increased use of the mysterious substance, which is sold openly in shops for $60 a gram.
(More mephedrone stories.)