Plymouth student's death linked to legal high
A CORONER has warned young people in the city to beware of "legal highs" following the death of a student.
The body of 20-year-old Grant Mace was found by a MoD police launch on the morning of Sunday March 4 in water off the Hoe near the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club. He had drowned.
At his inquest, Plymouth coroner Ian Arrow heard how the robotics student and two friends – Taylor Edgell and Charlotte Bundy – had each taken a capsule of Methoxetamine. The drug - which was legal at the time -is also known as mexxy or MXE. Ms Bundy said they had bought the capsules at a place she called "The Head Shop" near to Grant's student accommodation in Radnor Halls, Gilwell Street.
Returning to halls they each took a capsule, which only Ms Bundy had previously tried. A fire alarm later sounded forcing them to leave the halls, whereupon they became separated.
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She said: "I think Grant was a bit panicked. I lost him. Grant called me [by phone] and I was out of it. I couldn't really concentrate. He wanted me to come to the Co-op [in Regent Street] but I didn't know the area and I asked him to come back, but he wouldn't. I went back to the flats. I rang him a few more times but he didn't answer and I went back to a friend's place."
She said MXE was "like a legal form of ketamine... It made things very 'Alice in Wonderland'."
But she also admitted it made it difficult to "get about" and she had not taken the drug since Grant's death. After being questioned by Grant's father, Graham Mace, she claimed the salesman in the "Head Shop" where the substance was bought had said "why don't you try this one, it's stronger". She also explained how the words "Do Not Consume" was written on the packaging.
After the hearing Craig Preston, joint-owner of Dam Good Head Shop in Ebrington Street said he had "done nothing wrong". The substance was not illegal at the time of the tragedy.
Grant, born in Basildon, Essex, had been visited by his parents, Graham and Lee Mace on March 2. The couple, who live abroad, had spent the day with him and Grant had spoken about looking forward to meeting friends in Germany later in the year and returning home.
Mr Mace wrote: "This has come as a total shock to us. As far as we knew Grant did not take any illegal substances."
A post mortem revealed that the cause of death was drowning, but a toxicology report found traces of methoxetamine – 0.22mg per litre.
Det Con Stuart Payne, Plymouth police's Drugs Liaison Officer said he had not heard of the drug until the death of Grant Mace as it was a new substance.
Det Con Payne explained how on April 5, this year – just four weeks after Grant's death – MXE became the first drug to be banned by the Government under a temporary class drug order.
Det Con Payne said: "The majority of these drugs come in powder or tablet form. No-one is sure what they contain.
He explained the drugs was a "dissociative anaesthetics" and users went into a state of mind called the "M-hole". They remain conscious but have no control over their body functions or thoughts.
He said: "You're in a nice warm cosy place but really you have no control over what you're doing – similar to ketamine. Because of the relaxed state that's what causes the problems. If you are in water, you will drown."
Recording an open verdict, coroner Ian Arrow, said: "I do hope the publicity of this inquest draws the circumstances of the death of Grant to the attention of the public, particularly younger members who for whatever reason want to purchase these substances. The effect of this drugs is actually unknown and likely to have an adverse effect. On the balance of probabilities, it would effect cognitive functions – in other words, people would do things they would not normally do."
YOUNG PEOPLE GAMBLE WITH THEIR LIVES BY TAKING NEW DRUGS
POLICE have repeatedly warned users of "legal highs" they are gambling with their lives.
In March 2010 the legal high mephedrone – nicknamed 'Bubble' – was banned. Since then police in Plymouth have gone on to seize an increasing quantity of the class B drug.
It was quickly replaced by more "legal highs" such as NRG and methoxetamine, which has a number of "street" names including mexxy and MXE.
Online sellers would describe it as plant food or bath salts, with many websites emphasising it was "not for human consumption".
According to the government drugs awareness website, Frank, there is very little evidence about the long and short term effects of methoxetamine, although it is closely linked with 'dissociative anaesthetics' like ketamine and PCP, with similar effects.
It states that the main effects of MXE include:
Feelings of euphoria, warmth, 'enlightenment' and being detached from the world around.
Hallucinations
Feeling restless and on edge, feelings of extra energy.
A feeling of 'floating away'. Feeling completely detached from your body and surroundings, putting yourself in danger of accidentally being hurt or being hurt by others.
Other dissociative effects can develop, even a severe form of dissociation, catatonia, when someone is awake but doesn't respond to or interact with anything.
Involuntary eye movement, loss of balance and poor coordination and slurred speech.
As with 'Bubble', health authorities and emergency services across the UK began to recognise an increase in cases where revellers were under the adverse effects of MXE.
Following advice from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, the Home Office made methoxetamine illegal. On April 5, just four weeks after the death of Grant Mace, MXE was placed on the temporary banned list for 12 months while the ACMD decide whether it should be permanently controlled.
It is now illegal to sell or supply MXE, including giving it away to friends. It is also illegal to possess MXE for the purpose of selling it. Possession for personal use is not illegal, though police may still confiscate and destroy it.
While there have been no confirmed deaths from MXE, nobody knows the long term risks of using it.
In April this year, Det Con Stuart Payne, Drugs Liaison Officer told The Herald: "I think the biggest drug issue currently in the city is youngsters who are willing to try new psychoactive substances when they don't know what they really are."
In response to the banning of MXE he said: "There's always another two or three versions in its wake. That's the big danger because these drugs are not yet defined as illegal, some people think it is legal and thus safe. Young people appear willing to take the risk, to gamble with their health and possibly with their lives."
Comments
by PaddyGoo
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 12:55PM
“Nice one Ziltoid - but facts don't seem to be that important to people like PeteBarrow who is big on opinion and low on evidence.”
by KimMaceBaker
Monday, October 15 2012, 1:20PM
“When it comes to drugs, YES, one death IS too many!
Consuming by choice is out of anyone's hands, but the seller who suggests to the buyer that the drug (or so called "plant feeder" / "potpourri" / "bath salts" the list goes on) is better than another has then encouraged that individual to purchase it – disgraceful that these shops exist, we can't consistently control websites but the shops should be shut down and more awareness of legal highs publicized to parents of children entering into higher education.
I have lost my beautiful young brother to this – I want everyone to be aware that these 'legal highs' are being sold, in local shops, to young adults whom are uninformed and easily led by staff (!)"why don't you try this one, it's stronger". Who (the company/staff), with any morals, would go and sell a tablet to a young student that transparently notes "do not consume" on the box.
Disgraceful.”
by Ziltoid_t_O
Sunday, October 14 2012, 10:09PM
“Waltersmith I'm not sure exactly what your point is because unfortunately death is an unavoidable part of life and the man in this article drowned.
If what you're getting at is that this drug should be illegal because it may have contributed to the death of 1 person who used it and that is one death too many then what are your views on these other things that may have contributed to the death of at least 1 person:
Transportation, including cars/motorbikes etc, stairs, peanuts, salt, trees, fast food, electricity, swimming, the police, surgery, paracetamol, dogs, ladders, baths, religion and sex.
Clearly this list is not exhaustive! If one death is 1 too many then would you propose banning these things? Would you also propose banning the many other things that have contributed to or had an involvement in at least 1 death?”
by Waltersmith
Sunday, October 14 2012, 9:08PM
“@all
Sorry but 1 death is one too many”
by CharlieDodd
Sunday, October 14 2012, 4:26PM
“Problem with drugs is that they send users nutty, for example we hear of "drug-fuelled" crimes happening all the time.
And how can druggies safely drive a car if they're on another planet?
Maybe we should look at why people think they need drugs in the first place; I've never drank, smoked or drugged in my life and i'm quite alright..:)”
by Ziltoid_t_O
Sunday, October 14 2012, 4:14PM
“petebarrow please advise what exactly makes you any sort of authority on this subject?
All I did was provide some statistics that support the assertion that our drug laws are hypocritical and nonsensical as of the 3 most lethal drugs, in terms of the percentage of users that are killed by the drug per year, 2 of them are legal. I was honest about where the figures came from and I notice that you have not provided anything to counter the point. I never professed to be any sort of authority on the subject and I am entitled to an opinion.
I would be grateful if you would answer the following questions for me so I can try to understand where you're coming from. Do you now or have you ever consumed alcohol or smoked tobacco? Are you are aware of the problems caused by alcohol both to the individual and to society in general? If you are aware of the problems do you think that alcohol and tobacco should be illegal? If not, why not?
In so far as the Dutch situation, my understanding of the recently introduced 'weed pass' is that it has simply sent drug dealing back to the streets where it is unregulated and the police are struggling to cope. It is not looking likely, from what I understand that the weed pass will stay in place for long.
Finally, rather than expecting me to 'do a lot more research into countries and places where there has been a tolerance for drug taking and find out about the problems they have encountered' how about you support your own position and explain it to me. I know what I've read about these places and I certainly do not see any problems that are not outweighed by the benefits.
I look forward to hearing from you!”
by petebarrow
Sunday, October 14 2012, 1:48PM
“Ziltoid_t_O Googling something and 'cut and paste' what you find doesn't make you any sort of authority on the subject. I suggest you do a lot more research into countries and places where there has been a tolerance for drug taking and find out about the problems they have encountered. Holland is certainly reversing it's attitude towards cannabis. Tolerant drug policies has had negative social consequences so it is everybody's business.
As for PaddyGoo - Saturday night and you are posting opinions online to thisisplymouth - more lonely geek than urban warrior. Still, that's the beauty of posting anonymously - you can be who you want to be.”
by Ziltoid_t_O
Sunday, October 14 2012, 12:55PM
“Before I say anything else, it's obviously sad that this guy died, but the typical ban everything knee jerk reactions are unhelpful.
I just googled 'deaths in uk per year per drug' and the figures below were taken from the second result. An article titled 'Is alcohol worse than ecstasy?'
Tobacco - Users - 10,000,000 Deaths/Year – 114,000 Percentage – 1.14%
Heroin - Users - 300,000 Deaths/Year – 700 Percentage – 0.23%
Alcohol - Users - 40,000,000 Deaths/Year – 40,000 Percentage – 0.1%
Cocaine - Users - 780,000 Deaths/Year – 214 Percentage – 0.02981%
Speed - Users - 430,000 Deaths/Year –35 Percentage – 0.008%
Ecstasy - Users - 500,000 Deaths/Year – 27 Percentage – 0.0054%
Cannabis - Users - 3,000,000 Deaths/Year – 1 Percentage – 0.00003%
LSD - Users - 83,000 Deaths/Year – 0 Percentage – 0%
The article does not evidence the figures and it does not say whether it takes account of deaths directly associated with prohibition, from contaminated product, drug related murders etc. Also I have also only included what would be considered the big drugs. Personally, I doubt 1 person dies from cannabis every year but that's what the figures say so I've had to include it.
Our drug laws are based on misinformation and hypocrisy. How anyone who drinks alcohol can criticise someone who smokes cannabis for example is beyond me.
Det Con Stuart Payne said above "I think the biggest drug issue currently in the city is youngsters who are willing to try new psychoactive substances when they don't know what they really are." But did he for 1 second stop to think that maybe if people could take the drugs that have known effects with full knowledge of those potential effects then people would not seek out unknown legal highs to mimic the effects of banned substances.
To quote Bill Hicks, who I believe says it best, "Here is my final point...About drugs, about alcohol, about pornography...What business is it of yours what I do, read, buy, see, or take into my body as long as I do not harm another human being on this planet? And for those who are having a little moral dilemma in your head about how to answer that question, I'll answer it for you. NONE of your f****** business."”
by PaddyGoo
Sunday, October 14 2012, 1:12AM
“"In response to the banning of MXE he said: "There's always another two or three versions in its wake. That's the big danger because these drugs are not yet defined as illegal, some people think it is legal and thus safe." - here we go, the same old rubbish spouted about legal highs, "just because it's not illegal people think it's safe" - No they don't, alcohol and tobacco are legal highs and we all know they are not safe, but it's a gamble we all take - it's called informed choice.”
by PaddyGoo
Saturday, October 13 2012, 11:39PM
“Hey lets all drink and smoke ourselves to death - my parents did! But they are legalised drugs and legal highs so that's okay then. After heroin and cocaine tobacco is the next most harmful drug - fact. But it brings in lovely tax money, so this fatal drug that kills 80,000 a year is OK. You couldn't make this stuff up.”