A guitarist was today facing the prospect of having three fingers and a thumb amputated as a consequence of taking ‘legal highs’.
Steve Cunliffe, 25, suffered the reaction after injecting the drug ‘meow meow’ into his hands.
The wannabe musician, who also plays the piano and drums, now requires a serious operation after losing the feeling in his fingers.
Left-handed Steve, from Lydney, Glos., will have to have four digits removed removed from his writing-hand.
He said: “The only remaining finger I will have on that hand is my middle finger.
“My main worry is that it’s going to be extremely difficult to play the guitar, piano and drums. I’ve cried about this.
“In a way, having this injury has totally woken me up.”
Meow meow, also known as M Kat and by its official name Mephedrone, was legal to take until 2010.
The powerful stimulant, described as being a mix between amphetamines, ecstasy and cocaine, is now a Class B drug.
Usually snorted, the drug can make you feel alert, confident, talkative and euphoric, according to the website TalkToFrank.
But it is also known to make users feel sick, paranoid and anxious, and it can cause vomiting and headaches.