Local Labour AM, Keith Davies has joined the fight to reclassify a drug that has taken Llanelli by storm in recent months.

Mephedrone more commonly known as meow, meow, bubble or M-Cat – derived from its chemical name has increased in popularity especially amongst young people living in the Carmarthenshire town.

A Campaign launched by ChooseLife and supported by the Llanelli Star has received the backing of the town’s Assembly Member who wants the drug to be reclassified to join Heroin and Cocaine as the some of the dangerous drugs on the streets.

Earlier this summer, Keith Davies held a forum event bringing together organisations who work with young people through educationa and training. The increasing problem of drug use and the ease at which certain drugs like mephedrone can be bought or bartered for on the streets of Llanelli caused real concern.

Keith Davies AM said:

“I fully support the Llanelli Star’s campaign to tackle the mephedrone scourge that has become such a problem for so many of our communities.

“Earlier in the summer, I received several calls from youth workers who saw a worrying increase in the number of teenagers dabbling with this drug. Immediately I held a summit bringing together stakeholders to examine the issues involved. Alarmingly, it grips users so quickly that they resort to stealing and bartering to get their next hit.

“Reading the case studies from last week’s Llanelli Star proves how devastating this drug can be. It turns young people with prospects into losers with criminal records, tears families apart and creates misery for communities where burglaries so users can pay for their next fix. That is why I have signed the e-petition calling for mephedrone or ‘meow meow’ to be reclassified as a Class A drug.

“We must stand together to say meow meow will not be tolerated on the streets of Llanelli. Next month, Dyfed Powys Police will be launching their Safer Llanelli Initiative, I hope that tackling this issue will be top of their agenda to protect our young people.”