A TEARFUL mother is warning parents about the dangers of a new ‘legal’ drug being sold to children as young as 14.

The mum-of-two said the drug mephedrone – known on the streets as miaow miaow – is rife in Kirklees.

The mum, who does not want to be named to protect her son’s anonymity, says children taking the drug believe it’s harmless because it is not illegal.

Her two children have told her it can be bought over the counter, at some bars and off the internet for £15 per gram.

She said: “Even kids as young as 14 are doing it.

“It’s like a white powder and they put a little bit of it in their Rizla paper and then swallow it – they call it bombing.”

The drug is also commonly known as ‘drone’, ‘bubbles’ and ‘legal high’.

The mum has seen first-hand the devastating effects the ‘legal high’ is having on her 17-year-old son who wakes up in the morning with nose bleeds.

And she wants other parents to know how to spot the signs before it’s too late.

Last month mephedrone was linked to the death of 14-year-old schoolgirl Gabrielle Price, who allegedly took it together with ketamine at a friend’s house in Brighton.

She suffered a heart attack and later died.

In Durham recently a man ripped off his scrotum after he thought centipedes were crawling all over him after he took the drug.

Breaking down in tears, the distraught mum said her teenage son had “completely changed.”

She said: “He’s always been such a loving boy – a loveable rogue, but now he’s moody and aggressive.

“He talks to us like we’re a piece of rubbish.

“He’d left school and got an apprenticeship and was doing so well we were really proud of him but now he could lose his job.”

She said her son and all his friends in Mirfield think the drug is okay because it’s seen as ‘legal’.

“This is the scary thing,’’ she said. “They think it’s okay because it’s legal and you can just go on the internet and buy it and it gets delivered to the house in a little discreet package.”

She said: “Even kids as young as 14 are doing it.”

Dr Ken Checinski, senior consultant in addictive behaviour at drugs advice organisation FRANK, said: “Mephedrone is sold on the internet as plant food and is a stimulant with effects similar to ecstasy.

“It can make you feel euphoric, alert and talkative, but can also cause severe nose bleeds, anxiety and paranoia.

“Using mephedrone risks over stimulating your heart and nervous system, leading to fits.

“These so-called ‘legal highs’ are not a safer alternative to illegal drugs.

“They contain a range of potentially harmful chemicals and, as their chemical makeup changes all the time, you never know what you’re going to get.

“The risks increase if you combine ‘legal highs’ with alcohol or other drugs.

“Being able to talk to your children is key to preventing and limiting the potential problems caused by drug misuse.

“Every parent needs to find out the facts about drugs so that they can feel confident enough to have an open and honest conversation.”

For information talk to FRANK for free and in confidence at any time of the day or night by calling 0800 776600 or visit www.talktofrank.com

You can also text a question to 82111.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “There are number of substances which are not controlled drugs or illegal which can be abused.

“We would advise against ingesting anything into your body which is not for a bone fide medical reason.”