The drug known as spice first shot to national attention in the spring of 2017. Uploaded videos showed people on the ground in Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester or frozen like statues. However, the debilitating impact of the drug was first reported in 2015 when five students from Lancaster University were treated at a hospital after they took the drug. As of 2024, spice continues to be a significant problem, with new and alarming forms of consumption emerging.
The Call for Stricter Classification
In October 2018, Marc Jones Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner made an appeal to the Home Office to make spice and drugs similar to it as a class A drug. He wants the dealers who are pushing this drug to be lumped together with heroin dealers. Commissioner Jones said that spice was the biggest threat to public health in the past 10 years.
Widespread Impact
Spice has resulted in deaths nationwide and its use has been increasing in towns, villages and cities across the UK.
2024 Update on Spice Drug Use in the UK
As of 2024, the landscape of spice drug use in the UK has evolved, presenting new challenges and concerns. While the drug continues to affect vulnerable populations in cities across the country, a troubling new trend has emerged: the presence of spice in vape liquids.
Recent incidents have highlighted the dangers of this new form of spice consumption. In London, five teenagers were hospitalised after smoking vapes containing spice. This is part of a growing problem with unregulated vape liquids, particularly those marketed as containing THC or cannabis.
The appeal of vaping, especially among younger demographics, has created a new avenue for spice distribution. Unlike the perception of spice as a “dirty” street drug, vape liquids can appear more innocuous and attractive to users who might not otherwise consider using spice.
In Lancaster and Morecambe, several teenagers required hospital treatment after using vapes believed to be contaminated with dangerous Class B drugs, including amphetamines and THC. This incident has raised concerns about the sale of illegal vapes to underage users through social media platforms.
The unpredictable nature of spice, combined with the ease of concealment in vape liquids, makes this trend particularly dangerous. Users may be unaware of the presence of spice in their vape liquid, leading to unexpected and potentially severe reactions.
Authorities and health professionals are now facing the challenge of educating the public about these new risks associated with vaping, while also addressing the ongoing issues of spice use among vulnerable populations in cities across the UK.
Demographics of Spice Users
The users of the drugs are located all over the UK, especially in high social deprivation areas. People who are homeless, unemployed or dealing with relationship problems are the ones most affected by this drug.
According to experts, spice isn’t fashionable with the younger demographics because they see it as a “dirty” street drug, unlike the glamorous perception of narcotics like ecstasy. However, the recent trend of spice-laced vape liquids may be changing this perception among younger users.
UK Cities Affected by Spice
Spice has become a problem in cities like Blackpool, Bristol, Belfast, Wrexham, Aberdeen, Kilmarnock, Glasgow, Hull and Birmingham. In 2018, Doncaster was in the national news when locals were referring to the town of South Yorkshire as ‘spice-caster’. In 2020, the Sun reported how Newcastle has become the country’s “drug death capital”, with Spice being one of the major problem drugs for the city.
Challenges in Tracking Spice Use
There are a number of reasons why it is difficult to get a handle on the precise numbers of spice users in the UK. Since it is a new drug, people who don’t show up in public health statistics like prisoners are the ones who mostly use it.
Spice is in the category of drugs referred to as new psychoactive substances (NPS). In 2017, 61 people died from NPS, which according to official government stats, is a “statistically significant” fall from the 123 deaths reported in 2016. Yet again, the official stats aren’t fully accurate for figuring out how many people are actually on the drug. Spice is only one of the NPS to show up on the streets with any regularity.
Detection and Testing
Despite being a fairly new drug, spice can be detected by a drug test. Zoom Testing has a 10 Panel drug test that includes spice as one of the drugs it detects. Many employers now use these workplace drug testing kits and they will screen potential and existing employers for drug use. Failing a drug test at work can have far-reaching consequences for any employee.
Conclusion
As spice continues to be a significant problem in the UK, with new forms of consumption like vape liquids emerging, it’s crucial for individuals, communities, and authorities to remain vigilant. If you suspect someone is using spice or selling spice-laced vape liquids, report it to the local authorities. For those struggling with spice use, there are support services available through the NHS and various drug addiction charities.
Photo Credit: “Homeless” (CC BY 2.0) by Blowing Puffer Fish
Zoom Testing is a leading UK drug testing company and a supplier of Drug Test Kits.
This post was originally published in October 2018 and updated in 2024 to reflect current trends and concerns.
