Monkey dust, the new danger drug

EMERGENCY services are facing an ‘epidemic’ of people hooked on a new drug known as ‘monkey dust’ that leads to psychotic behaviour.

The illegal synthetic substance, which costs as little a £2 a time with effects lasting up to three days, causes hallucinations and paranoia, and makes users violent.

Also called MDPV, it leaves them immune to pain and with ‘incredible strength’, meaning it can take several people to restrain them, police say.

One of the worst-affected areas is Staffordshire, where police say they deal with an average of 10 calls a day related to the drug. Police footage shows users in Stoke-on-Trent under the influence, including one man who scaled a twostorey building before jumping off and landing on a car only to get straight back up and start grappling with officers.

PC Rich Frost, from Staffordshire police, said trying to restrain someone on monkey dust was like ‘dealing with someone who thinks they are the Incredible Hulk – the strength is unbelievable’.

One paramedic said: ‘It’s not becoming a problem. It’s already an epidemic.’