Schoolgirl, 14, dies 'after taking dangerous new drug meow meow' at house party
Matthew Kruk
Schoolgirl, 14, dies 'after taking dangerous new drug meow meow' at
house party
By James Mills
Last updated at 10:36 PM on 24th November 2009
A girl of 14 who collapsed and died at a party may have taken a
dangerous drug available legally on the internet for �4 a gram.
Gabrielle Price, known as Gabi, died of a suspected heart attack after
falling ill at a friend's house on Saturday evening.
Neighbours yesterday said that there were drugs at the party and claimed
Gabrielle had taken a mixture of ketamine and plant fertiliser
Mephedrone - known as meow meow.
The drug, which is reputed to have effects similar to cocaine and
ecstasy, is the latest craze to hit the club scene.
A post-mortem examination failed to pinpoint the cause of Gabi's death
and toxicology reports have been ordered.
Police arrested a woman, 39, and a 17-year-old boy on suspicion of
supplying drugs at the party in Brighton.
Gabrielle, who lived in nearby Worthing, fell ill at 5.15pm on Saturday.
Paramedics treated her for a suspected cardiac arrest before taking her
to the Royal Sussex County Hospital where she died at around 10pm.
Her friends and teachers paid tribute to Gabrielle saying she had a
bright future ahead of her.
Della West, head teacher of Davison High School, an all-girls
comprehensive in Worthing, said: 'She was a popular girl, very quirky,
with her own individual sense of style.
'She loved music and was hoping to use her creativity in a future
career. She will be sadly missed.'
School friend Amber Herriott, 16, said: 'At school she was always really
happy and hyper. She was the most beautiful angel I knew. I hope she
rests in peace.'
The girl's parents, who also have a ten-year-old son, were too
distraught to comment last night.
Residents living near the terraced house in Brighton where the party
took place said they saw the paramedics' frantic attempts to revive the
teenager.
FACTFILE: 'Meow meow'
.Also known as Mephedrone and MCATA, it's a stimulant drug with effects
similar to MDMA producing euphoria, alertness, talkativeness and
feelings of empathy.
.It can also cause anxiety and paranoid states and risk overstimulating
the heart and nervous system to cause fits.
.Severe nosebleeds have been reported after snorting. Mephedrone has
been linked to the death of a young woman in Sweden in 2008.
.A white or off-white powder usually sold on the internet as a legal
high and described as a plant food or a research chemical not for human
consumption.
.Reports say that it can be compulsive to use and creates a state of
psychological dependence.
Neighbour Anita Cullen said: 'I saw a whole load of blue flashing lights
outside. There were four or five paramedics and a couple of ambulances.
'Then they brought someone out of the house on a stretcher.
'She was all covered up; you could just see her feet. She didn't look in
a good way.'
Another neighbour, who did not want to be named. said: 'There were a lot
of drugs at the party and I think this young girl had taken a mixture of
stuff.
'I think she had taken some ketamine and this new stuff called meow
meow.'
A 39-year-old woman from Brighton was arrested at the house on suspicion
of supplying illegal drugs and released on police bail until January 14.
A boy of 17 from Hove was also held and interviewed by officers on
suspicion of supplying a Class B drug and he was bailed until January
26.
Class B drugs include amphetamines and cannabis which was re-classified
earlier this year.
Possession of the Class B drugs carries a maximum five year prison term,
an unlimited fine or both, while dealing the drugs carries a maximum 14
year jail sentence.
Police are trying to establish what drugs, if any, were taken by
Gabrielle and who supplied them.
Detective Inspector Bill Warner, of Sussex Police, said: 'We have
suspicions there were two people supplying drugs but not necessarily to
her.'
A police spokesman added: 'Until we have the toxicology reports we can't
say for certain what happened. There is a chance that she died of
natural causes. It's very rare for a girl of her age but it does
happen.'
Mephedrone, also known as MCATA, is sold as a white powder and can be
easily bought on the Internet.
Fears about its dangers have been growing since it was linked to the
death of an 18-year-old Swedish woman in Stockholm last December.
The drug has recently been made illegal in Israel.