“I am aware the Scottish Government has written to the Home Office calling for this drug to be banned as Westminster has the remit to reclassify drugs,” he said.

“I also intend writing to the Scottish health minister to add our weight to any proposal they put to the UK Parliament.”

Mr Wallace said people taking mephedrone along with other drugs could be risking their lives.

“If we don’t make some effort, somebody is going to suffer,” he said. “The phone will ring or there will be a knock at the door and in that split second a family’s life will be changed forever.”

Cllr Wallace said he was glad to see police had circulated an information leaflet about bubbles to managers and staff of licensed premises in Dundee.

The leaflet advises that bubbles known to circulate in Tayside is in the form of white, pink, blue or red capsules containing white, pink or blue powder.

Reports of what bubbles contains are varied but many seizures in Tayside have mephedrone as the main constituent. Cutting agents include the blood thinning agent Warfarin, an over-the-counter caffeine tablet and a milkshake powder.

As well as euphoria and increased energy, bubbles’ side effects include muscle tension, nausea, blurred vision, chills and sweating.

The police leaflet states, “These would be particularly dangerous if any other controlled drug, other substances or alcohol are taken at the same time.”

Mephedrone is a chemical sold as plant food and is not meant for human consumption.