UK cops put on alert for ’sparkle’ - the new legal high

LONDON - Police in the UK have been alerted for a potentially dangerous drug ’sparkle’.

The alert comes just hours after the ban on mephedrone became effective.

According to users, sparkle, dubbed “legal MDMA”, provokes effects including euphoria and increased brain activity similar to ecstasy.

But the drug’s content is not yet fully understood.

“We have had emails about this one from operational cops all over the country for the last few months,” the Independent quoted Mal Taylor of the Police Federation, as saying.

Taylor added: “We have had all sorts of slang names given to these substances in different parts of the country. We are looking into sparkle, but we just cannot say yet what is involved or exactly how dangerous it is.”

An adviser from the Frank drugs helpline confirmed that they did not know much about the drug.

She said: “We are not fully aware of the full risks because there has been no research into them. There is a risk of death.” (ANI)