The zombie-drug ‘spice’ makes users significantly slower and unable to focus within just one hour, according to the first study of its kind.
Even at considerably lower doses than those taken recreationally, the controversial ‘fake cannabis’ and former ‘legal high’ makes people feel intoxicated within just 60 minutes and tired 12 hours later, the research adds, which is the first to investigate the drug’s behavioural effects in humans.
Although the study’s safety results were strong, with only fatigue and headache being reported, experts warn the dose used was exceptionally low.
Ian Hamilton, a cannabis researcher at York University, told MailOnline: ‘The low dose used in this study is unlikely to represent the dose most people are exposed to.
‘The results in this study confirm the behavioural impairments caused by spice which have become very visible in our High Streets and city centres.’
Spice, which is up to four times more potent than cannabis, was available in the UK as a ‘legal high’ less than two years ago.
Although now prohibited, the drug, which can cause anxiety, vomiting, a rapid heart rate and even seizures, is wreaking havoc on Britain’s High Streets, as well as in its prisons.
Super-strength cannabis or ‘spice’ delays users’ reaction times and reduces their focus
How the research was carried out
Researchers from Maastricht University gave six healthy cannabis users 2mg, followed by 3mg, of spice.
The study’s participants, who inhaled the drug’s vapour via a ‘crack pipe’, were monitored for 12 hours after drug administration.
Urine and blood tests were taken after spice inhalation to assess its safety. The participants’ blood pressure and heart rates were also monitored.
The participants’ response times, spatial awareness and decision-making abilities were assessed by completing various computer-based tasks.
Questionnaires were completed to determine the participants’ moods, cannabis cravings and feelings of being ‘high’.
‘This study confirms the behavioural impairments caused by spice’
Results reveal people under the influence of spice have significantly longer reaction times and difficulty focusing on tasks.
They also feel more ‘high’ from a low dose of spice one-to-two hours after its administration compared to a higher dose, which may be due to them getting used to the substance.
Yet, high doses make people feel more tired than lower doses after 12 hours.
Safety results show normal heart rate and blood pressure recordings, with the only side effects being tiredness and headache. Yet, experts add, the doses used in the study are likely lower than those taken recreationally.
Mr Hamilton said: ‘I think overall it is good that studies like this are done as we have very little human research on synthetic cannabinoids most studies to date are on animals.
‘The low dose used in this study is unlikely to represent the dose most people are exposed to.
‘The results in this study confirm the behavioural impairments caused by spice which have become very visible in our High Streets and city centres.
‘The main problem with this study is that it only had six participants but it could be scaled up to include a larger sample’.
The findings were published in the British Journal of Pharmacology.