News di Alcologia

Some 40 to 50 per cent of drug users at parties are currently using mephedrone, a new designer drug that emerged late last

year and which is easily available over the internet, Police Assistant Commissioner and head of the police anti-drug squad

Neil Harrison told The Malta Independent.
Known as miaow miaow on the streets, the drug is marketed as a plant fertiliser on the internet but it is not truly so and at

east one person is known to have died after using the drug in Sweden.
As yet it is not specifically scheduled in the drugs ordinance. Discussions are currently ongoing between the police, health

authorities and the Attorney General's office to determine whether the drug, the long-term effects of which are not yet

known, is already covered by the ordinance because it is a derivative of another substance, or whether it should be included.
Mr Harrison is hopeful that a decision on the matter is communicated in the coming weeks. The European Monitoring Centre for

Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) and Europol, have scrutinised the drug, assessing its short term effects in detail,

concluding there are enough reasons for more scientific studies to assess its social and health risks.
"Only time will tell its long-term effects, but you must never experiment with these things," Mr Harrison advised. "It still

kills".
While only a few countries have scheduled the drug, it is clearly evident that the risks exist.
So far this year, 4.264 kg of the drug, in the form of a yellowish powder, was seized for research and 13 persons were

questioned over its possession. One of these persons was found to have ecstasy pills in addition to mephedrone- a dangerous

cocktail. Three persons have also been found to be trafficking the drug.
The tenth electoral district, which includes St Julian's and Paceville, tops the lists with regard to arrests. In total, 95

persons were arrested in this area last year; 70 were held over drug possession while 25 were held over trafficking. Ta' Qali

and Rabat were equally popular and another 70 users were detained.
District four, which includes Marsa, Poala and Santa Lucija, was the most common for trafficking: 26 persons were detained

for trafficking and 56 persons were held for possession. A total of 67 persons arrested last year were residing in this

district.
Meanwhile, 23 persons were held over trafficking in the twelfth district, which includes Bugibba. Another 24 persons in the

same district, were held over possession.
Drug using is therefore closely linked with places of entertainment yet, most individuals arrested for trafficking - 24, had

been residing in the twelfth district which is quieter than Paceville, Rabat and Ta' Qali especially in the winter months.

Hover, Mr Harrison pointed out that Bugibba is a most sought after place of residence by a number of Nigerian nationals

involved in drug rings.
The largest number of persons arrested - 76, resided in the twelfth district (Cottonera area) and 62 of these were held over

possession.
Arraignments for drug trafficking nearly doubled since 2005. While 93 persons were arrested in 2005, a total of 171 persons

were held last year. Some 94 per cent of these were men.
The highest number of persons arrested on trafficking grounds was in the 20-24 age group. In fact 42 persons from this group

were arrested last year. Another 31 persons in the 25-29 group, as well as 37 persons in the 30-34 age bracket were also

arrested for the same reason. A good number of teenagers; 21 were detained.
A total of 119 persons in the 20-24 age group were held by the police over drug possession. Some 96 persons and 86 persons in

the 15-19 and 25-29 age brackets respectively were also arrested over possession