A Stoke-on-Trent MP has asked for Prime Minister Keir Starmer's help in tackling the 'significant problems' caused by monkey dust in the city.

Allison Gardner, Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent South, says that a lack of joined-up working between services in Stoke-on-Trent is making it harder for addicts to recover.

Dr Gardner raised the issue during Prime Minister's Questions, saying she had launched a task force aimed at addressing these service gaps.

She asked for a meeting with Sir Keir to discuss the problem of synthetic cathinones such as monkey dust.

Dr Gardner said: "I recently met Graham and Malcolm, who bravely shared their lived experience of addiction to monkey dust, a synthetic cathinone causing significant problems in Stoke-on-Trent.

"They shared the challenges that they faced in recovery – challenges caused by a lack of joined-up working between local services, including mental health and housing services. I am now setting up a taskforce to address those gaps and to learn from excellent local projects, such as SPHERE.

"Will the Prime Minister meet me to discuss how, together as a country, we can tackle this pernicious drug?

SPHERE is a project launched by homelessness charity Concrete in 2023 which aims to help psychoactive substance users get access to housing and support.

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Sir Keir acknowledged the threat posed by drugs such as monkey dust and said the government is investing in services for addicts.

He said: "I thank my honourable friend for her work. She is right to highlight the growing threat posed by dangerous synthetic drugs.

"Alongside deploying new detection methods at the border to seize drugs, we are investing in better mental health support and drug addiction treatment, with almost £26 million for Stoke-on-Trent. I will ask a Health Minister to discuss her important work with her."