PRODUCTION: BBC World Service
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Uk, Latvia
PRODUCTION COUTRY: Russian Federation
DATE: 2025
LENGTH: 37′
DIRECTED BY: Anastasia Platonova

This BBC investigation exposes the growing use of mephedrone among Russian teenagers - a synthetic drug known as “Meow Meow” or “the poor man’s cocaine” - following the drug’s journey from Chinese precursors to Russian production labs. For over a year the team has followed the lives of 18-year-old Maxim, involved in drug trafficking since he was 13, and Olga, who has battled addiction since 14. Their stories reveal the devastating impact of the drug on young lives and shed light on why increasing numbers of teenagers are drawn into the narcotics trade, while law enforcement agencies struggle to contain it.