Copyright 1997 The Associated Press.

IRVINE, Calif. (AP) A 16yearold girl arrested on suspicion of making
the illegal stimulant methcathinone told investigators she found a recipe
for the drug on the Internet.

The girl, whose name was withheld due to her age, was living with her uncle
and was arrested after he smelled a peculiar odor in the house and couldn't
get an adequate explanation from her.

The girl had the supplies for a sophisticated manufacturing lab and recipes
for other drugs, police Lt. Tom Hume said Tuesday. He said she already had
thrown away at least two failed batches of "cat," as the drug is known,
before she was arrested Friday.

The girl told detectives after her arrest that she had been trying to
"cook" the drug using instructions she found on the Internet.

At least 25 Internet sites are devoted to the drug, including how to make
it, enhance its high and reduce the costs of certain ingredients.

Methcathinone, similar to methamphetamine, first appeared in Michigan six
years ago and has been popular in the Midwest, though rarely seen in
California.

But officials said they fear seeing more. The easytoget ingredients
which include overthecounter decongestants and chemicals like drain and
concrete cleaners make manufacturing methcathinone appealing.

"They can do it cheap and sell it for $100 a gram," said Special Agent Gary
Hudson, a supervisor for the state's Bureau of Narcotics. "But they do it
at a risk. It's extremely dangerous to fool around with."

The girl was arrested for investigation of manufacturing a controlled
substance and released into her parents' custody, Hume said.