Potentially 'life-changing' monkey dust drug being used in Telford - police

Psychotic behaviour and seemingly superhuman strength due to the inability to feel pain have been noted as side effects of 'monkey dust', as well as causing either a high level of violence or a zombie effect depending on the user, according to West Mercia Police.

Robert Hughes, of the policing team in the Donnington area, said: "On Wednesday we dealt with a person who had taken it. It was a search for a person who absconded from hospital after they had taken monkey dust that morning which caused their heart to go into tachycardia - rapid heart rate."

He added that some of the side effects of monkey dust, also called D, are superhuman strength due to the inability to feel pain, psychotic behaviour and either a high level of violence or a zombie effect depending on the user.

"We dealt with someone a while ago and it took several people to restrain them," said PC Hughes.

PC Hughes said: "The user will often lose the sensation of pain, harming themselves, and the ability for reasoning, taking risks and being unaware of danger - or they can make the user anxious and paranoid.

"Monkey dust is a class B drug so possession and selling it is an offence."

He added that "in the scale of things it is not rife in the area - it is just about making people aware if they are offered something or know someone whose behaviour has changed".

"It can cause paranoia, the feeling that you are being followed, or violence."

The drug is classed as a cathinone, which can cause feelings of euphoria and empathy as well as increasing alertness and talkativeness, but the side effects can be life-changing. It can also create a state of psychological dependence and can be compulsive to use.

The chemical, cathinone, is a naturally occurring stimulant drug found in the plant, khat.

PC Hughes recommended using the Talk To Frank website for more information: talktofrank.com/drug/cathinones#how-it-looks-tastes-and-smells.