Spice – a synthetic cannabinoid also known as ‘Black Mamba’ – is one addictive substance that has seen a growing popularity in recent years.
Sadly, this has caused numerous deaths across the UK [1] throughout the past decade and has now even made its way into the prison system, where it has become a deadly epidemic.
This article will explore spice, its addictive qualities and the various dangers associated with it, as well as detail several ways to stop the spice epidemic.
Spice is a common name for synthetic cannabinoids, which are lab-made drugs designed to mimic the effects of cannabis.
Some companies market them as herbal incense, potpourri or under other street names such as K2 and Black Magic, but most people know these synthetic drugs as spice.
They are usually sprayed on or mixed with plant material and smoked, although some people concentrate them into liquids to be vaped.
Before it was banned in the UK, spice was sold in many convenience stores as well as online.
Every time the government tried to ban it, a new variant was quickly introduced. Finally, all variants of synthetic cannabinoids were banned in the UK as of 2016. [2]
Unfortunately, spice is still sold as an illegal street drug despite its many negative effects.
As spice was created to mimic the effects of cannabis, smoking or vaping it can provide a very similar sensation.
Man rolling a joint containing spicewho have used spice report feeling extremely relaxed and euphoric.
They experience a feeling of general well-being, increased creativity and changes in perception that can help them to detach from their current situation.
Additionally, time seems to pass much more quickly when using spice.
Some people say that a year spent using spice feels like just a few months, which is one of the reasons this drug has made such a name for itself in prisons across the UK.
However, not all short-term effects of spice are enjoyable.
You may also experience a raised heartbeat, confusion, slurred speech, hallucinations, vomiting and even suicidal thoughts.
In the long-term, using spice can cause serious damage to your kidneys.
One study found that 100% of participants who regularly smoked spice had kidney issues with some even requiring dialysis. [3]
It also increases your risk of suffering a heart attack, even for teenagers and young people.
As well as your body, spice also affects your brain.
Many people have experienced hallucinations, paranoia and depression after using spice regularly, and some even become physically aggressive.
While spice and cannabis have similar effects when smoked or vaped, they differ from each other in many ways.
It’s easy to believe that spice must be a safer alternative to cannabis, simply because it’s made in a lab.
This is not the case – in fact, spice is even more dangerous than cannabis.
As there are no regulations around the manufacturing of spice in the UK, it’s impossible to know what levels of chemicals each package of spice contains.
They do not conform to any laws or limitations, so manufacturers are free to add anything they like to each batch in order to bulk it out and increase their profits.
Additionally, most of the chemicals used to make spice were never intended for human consumption and are actually highly dangerous.
While cannabis is addictive and can be dangerous in its own way, it does not usually contain nearly as many chemicals as spice.
It’s important to remember that just because something is made in a lab, this doesn’t make it legal or safe to use.
Spice is a highly addictive drug.
It is extremely potent and made up of various chemicals that interact together in various ways, many of which are so dangerous that they are not fit for human consumption.
As spice can make you feel relaxed and euphoric, as well as changing your perception of time passing, it can be very alluring for people who are struggling with mental health problems or simply need an escape from their daily lives.
Many people in prison are living with mental health issues such as:
For these people, spice is a way to cope with their feelings.
For people in prison, boredom is another reason that they may find it difficult to stop using spice.
It can also become a compulsion, and they may feel that they cannot function in prison without the use of spice.
When your body and brain become dependent on spice, you may experience uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms such as vomiting and uncontrollable shaking when you try to stop using it.
This can make it even more difficult to quit, and many people fall into a pattern of using spice regularly to escape the withdrawal symptoms.
As spice is so unregulated it is highly dangerous, and the use of this drug can be deadly.
Between 2012 and 2019 there were 165 deaths in England directly linked to spice use, [4] however the true number is thought to be much greater and is only increasing despite spice being banned across the UK.
A recent spate of deaths at HMP Parc prison in Bridgend have been attributed to spice use.
There were 6 deaths in just one month, with 4 of them confirmed to be directly related to drug use behind bars. [5]
Prison officials believe that spice caused these deaths and was potentially mixed with other drugs.
Many spice deaths are unreported due to a high percentage of them affecting the homeless population.
However, anyone can die from using spice.
Even if you are using spice for the first time, you are putting yourself at risk.
Some batches have been tainted with rat poison, a deadly toxin that can kill even first-time spice users.
The spice epidemic in prisons is a huge problem across the UK.
It is causing a number of issues including increased injury and death to prisoners, unsafe working conditions for staff and a strain on already limited resources.
These problems will be explored further in this blog post alongside potential solutions to the spice epidemic in prisons.
Due to the high security in prisons, it should be impossible for inmates to access spice.
Unfortunately, dealers and prisoners alike are extremely resourceful when it comes to getting drugs into prison.
Many people in prison are able to access spice by asking friends and family members to send them letters, children’s drawings or fake legal documents sprayed with spice, which they can then tear up and smoke.
The legal documents have been the most pressing issue, as rules state that they can only be opened by the inmate named in the letter.
People outside the prison are also spraying spice onto clothes and throwing them over the fence or infiltrating the laundry and maintenance services.
It can be very difficult and time-consuming for guards to monitor every item that comes through the prison gates, and dealers and prisoners are taking advantage of this.
Using spice in prison doesn’t just affect the person who uses this drug – it has far-reaching negative effects that trickle down throughout the entire prison system.
One of the most worrying effects of the spice epidemic in prisons is the increased rates of death and illnesses related to this drug.
One investigation looked at deaths of prisoners in England and Wales between 2015 and 2020, with 48% of these deaths involving spice. [6]
Another report states that some prisons were treating up to 50 prisoners each week for issues relating to spice. [7]
Prison staff and medical workers who are called in to treat people who have used spice are being put at risk, as they often must enter cells while the smoke is still in the air.
Some nurses have reported passing out from the fumes or being unable to drive for some time after being exposed to spice.
People who are under the influence of spice may also be more aggressive, which puts staff at risk of injury.
Many prisons are already under enormous strain due to government cutbacks and budget issues, and spice is an additional drain on resources.
Staff need to spend large amounts of time dealing with spice emergencies, and each incident requires multiple prison workers and nurses.
Even after the emergency is over, more time and resources are spent on paperwork and reports.
There is no one way to stop the spice epidemic in prisons.
Instead, a multi-faceted approach is needed, taking into account the various ways that spice is being brought into prisons and the reasons why inmates are using this drug.
HMP Preston came up with a new way to prevent inmates from receiving letters, children’s drawings and documents sprayed with spice – they began photocopying every piece of paper delivered to prisoners, keeping the originals aside to be tested and/or disposed of. [8]
This proved to be extremely effective, with ambulance callouts for spice emergencies decreasing noticeably.
The prison doesn’t expect this technique to completely eradicate the spice pandemic, but it has been a promising start in tackling the problem.
Some companies are developing new technology that would allow prison workers to detect synthetic cannabinoids like spice with a simple device. [9]
It can be extremely difficult to monitor everything that comes into a prison, particularly something as time-consuming as checking for spice with swabs.
However, portable devices are being developed that would allow workers to simply wave them over each item and know in moments whether they have tested positive for spice.
Many inmates across the UK spend large amounts of time alone in their cells.
This can increase feelings of boredom, hopelessness and apathy, and may lead to spice use simply to pass the time.
It’s possible that increasing the number of activities that inmates can engage in while behind bars could lead to a reduction in spice use.
This may include a wider range of books and craft supplies being available as well as inmates being given the option to engage in other productive tasks such as woodwork, cooking and working towards a degree.
Mental health disorders are common in prisons across the UK, and this can lead to an increase in the use of spice as inmates attempt to self-medicate and numb their symptoms.
It can be argued that an increase in mental health services behind bars could be an effective way to stop the spice epidemic in prisons, as well as more effective addiction treatment as opposed to promoting complete abstinence.
This will have a cumulative effect, as many of these inmates will have developed healthy coping skills by the time they are released from prison and will have an easier time readjusting to society.
As with any other addictive drug, the safest and most effective way to recover from a spice addiction is to seek treatment at a specialised rehab clinic.
This can be difficult for people in prison, as there are often not enough resources to ensure they receive professional addiction treatment.
In many cases, they are not able to access the support they need until they leave prison.
If you do have the opportunity to check into an inpatient or outpatient rehab clinic, the first part of your treatment will involve a supervised detox.
Your medical team will create a detox plan for you that allows you to safely stop using spice.
This may be cold turkey or may be a gradual decrease over 7-10 days.
They will monitor you as you go through withdrawal symptoms to ensure you are as comfortable as possible.
Once the detox is complete, you will receive a minimum of three weeks worth of counselling to address the issues behind your spice use and help you to learn healthy coping techniques.
Your counsellor will also assist you in preventing and overcoming cravings.
It is recommended that you continue with counselling after you complete your rehab programme to reduce your risk of experiencing a relapse.
[1] https://www.mdx.ac.uk/news/2023/01/spice-prison-deaths
[3] https://anthc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Hot-Topics-Spice.pdf
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9418359/
[5]
[6] https://www.mdx.ac.uk/news/2023/01/spice-prison-deaths
[8] https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/how-prison-beat-spice-drug-13253639
Boris is our editor-in-chief at Rehab 4 Addiction. Boris is an addiction expert with more than 20 years in the field. His expertise covers a broad of topics relating to addiction, rehab and recovery. Boris is an addiction therapist and assists in the alcohol detox and rehab process. Boris has been featured on a variety of websites, including the BBC, Verywell Mind and Healthline. You can connect with Boris online at LinkedIn or X.com.
