Children as young as 12 spending pocket money on "Snapchat" drugs in Cumbria

A Workington teenager is the latest to end up in hospital after taking the dangerous new ecstasy pills - which feature the Snapchat 'ghost' logo and can be bought for as little as £5 each - over the weekend.

The 14-year-old's heart rate was so high her mum said doctors were worried she was going to go into cardiac arrest.

Another 13-year-old boy was reported missing by his family after taking the drug on Friday and failing to return home.

According to their parents, both teenagers had taken the drug while hanging out with friends at Workington fair.

It happened just a week after another 14-year-old girl, this time from Whitehaven, ended up in hospital after taking the drug.

The two mums are now speaking out to warn others how dangerous these pills can be, and to urge anyone with information about who has been supplying the drug to children to contact the police.

The so-called 'Snapchat' pills - believed to contain ecstasy/MDMA, and possibly other substances - are one of the latest on the drugs scene and have already left several Cumbrians in hospital.

The latest incident, involving the 14-year-old Workington girl, happened on Saturday night. But her mother says she has since been contacted by other parents from across the county, including the mum of a 12-year-old boy, who say their children have also taken the pills.

The girl's mum, who has not been named to protect the child's identity, believes the drugs are being deliberately targeted at young teenagers at pocket money prices to get them hooked at an early age.

She explained that her daughter had gone to the fair, on the town's Cloffocks, with friends that afternoon.

Initially she'd drank some alcohol, but had later bought the pills and taken two - resulting in her being rushed to hospital.

"The biggest shock for me was the actual state she was in," said the girl's mum. "It was horrific. I've seen people in some states before, but never like this. Her head was just rolling."

Her mum said she'd spoken to her on the phone at 5pm and she could tell she'd had a drink. Although not completely happy, she agreed to let her daughter stay out as previously agreed. She never imagined her daughter would be offered - or take - drugs.

After taking the pills, the girl had passed out and her friends had struggled to bring her round. Concerned, they admitted to her mum what had happened, describing her as "out of it".

Rushing to pick her up, her mum said: "I could tell she wasn't just drunk. This wasn't even a high, it was a bad pill.

"She'd obviously fallen, her clothes were filthy. She's just lucky her friends had been looking after her. She could have passed out on her own somewhere and died of hypothermia.

"I struggled to even get her in the car. Her eyes were rolling and her jaw was right out. I just thought I need to take her to hospital and drove her straight through to Whitehaven.

"When we got there her heart rate was 180. They said it should be 70 to 80, so she wasn't far off cardiac arrest."

Her daughter was admitted to the West Cumberland Hospital's children's ward and put on a saline drip. Medics monitored her heart rate and tested her liver and kidney function for long term damage.

She was given the all-clear and allowed home at lunchtime on Sunday.

Her mum said she has been very lucky, but fears that another teenager will die unless the supply chain is stopped.

She accepts her daughter was at fault for taking the drug, but said it is clearly aimed at young people.

"She's never taken drugs before and hopefully never will again. It was her choice and she's got to face up to it all," she said.

"But there is still someone out there selling drugs to kids. My daughter paid £10 for two pills. Others were buying one and halfing them. That's £2.50 each - the same price as a couple of bars of chocolate.

"I've had so many other people contacting me whose children have taken this. One was 12. One parent said they'd had the pills tested and they contained ecstasy, MDMA and heroin. To me that's a whole different ball game. This is about hooking kids now at a young age."

The mum of the 13-year-old, also from Workington, who was reported missing after taking the drug, said she is worried he is already hooked and doesn't know where to turn.

"We've had an awful weekend. He went to the fair on Friday night. I had to report him as a missing person because he didn't come back. He was absolutely out of it," she said.

"The police brought him back on Saturday dinner time. He was on a massive come down.

"He's been taking them for a couple of weeks. He's even been taking them on his own. We've no idea what's in them.

"I know there's a lot of them round here taking them at the moment. It's absolutely heartbreaking. They are still only babies. I feel like I don't want to let him out ever again. That sounds awful, but I'm so scared."

She's also worried that little children could take them by mistake. "They look just like sweets. My six-year-old wouldn't think twice about putting it in their mouth," she added.

Both women are urging people in communities across Cumbria to report anyone they suspect is involved in the supply of these pills.

They said that if they are worried about repercussions they can use the anonymous Crimestoppers number to pass on information.

Although the Snapchat drug is widely referred to as ecstasy, it is not known exactly what is in the pills, which are often yellow but also come in other colours.

Last week, after the girl from Whitehaven was hospitalised, it was reported that at least six other teenagers were also ill after taking them.

Local schools are among those working to educate teenagers against the dangers of drugs, including these pills.

A spokeswoman for Fletchers Funfairs said they were shocked to hear there were any incidents at the Workington fair.

"We can't believe any of this has been going on. We weren't aware of any drugs being taken whatsoever," she said.

"We had a strong police presence throughout the day. It was a lovely family afternoon with no trouble at all."

Before the drugs arrived in Cumbria there were reports of teenagers from Merseyside ending up in hospital after taking them. Australian media have also reported similar cases in the past.

Cumbria Police have confirmed they are aware of the latest incidents and that they are under investigation.

They urged anyone with intelligence about the supply of these drugs in the county to come forward.

Cumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Peter McCall added: “The message is simple - don’t take drugs. They can seriously damage your health and are illegal.

"Anyone with any information relating to illegal drugs should contact the police as a matter of urgency."

Anyone with information about these drugs should call Cumbria Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

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Teachers step up the fight against drug menace

Schools are doing their own bit to combat the threat - by spreading the messages of the dangers out there.

Gill Creighton, assistant headteacher and safeguarding lead at Workington Academy, said they have offered advice to parents who are worried and are working to get the message across to pupils.

"Children need protecting and looking after. Nothing is more important. We do a lot of work, with the police and other agencies, to educate children but it's out there and readily available," she said.

"We've had police in assembles talking about the dangers and have age-appropriate lessons on drugs and alcohol."

She added that the school also uses a special website that allows students to report concerns anonymously, and promotes a 24-hour advice service for anyone who is worried or wants more information.

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What is the so-called Snapchat drug?

• These are pills emblazoned with the popular Snapchat 'ghost' icon
• Although referred to as ecstasy/MDMA, it is not known exactly what is in them - or how they will effect different people
• The drug is sold in often brightly-coloured pills
• There are reports of the pills selling for between £5 and £10 each
• There have been reports of people being seriously ill after taking them
• Even small doses can result in serious reactions