A man collapsed after taking just one drag of a Spice cigarette as the drug’s devastating epidemic continues to plague Britain’s cities.
Horrifying video footage shows the user convulsing on the streets of Nottingham as the substance takes hold and leaves him in a crumpled heap on the ground.
The incident comes just days after Nottingham City Council said it was ‘overwhelmed’ by the number of people collapsing from taking Spice or Black Mamba.
Horrifying video footage shows the man convulsing as he collapses on the streets of Nottingham
Paramedics are being called up to five times a day to drug users in the city and in August a 37-year-old man died after taking the similar substance, Black Mamba.
Councillor Toby Neal has urged the Home Office to help cities crackdown on the ‘worrying increase’ in the number of incidents of people using the drugs.
He said: ‘It’s a concern in terms of the health impacts for users as well as the impact on our communities, residents and visitors.
‘There’s a limit to what we can do within existing legislation – what’s needed is some leadership from Government on a problem that is beginning to have a big impact on all cities.
‘Cities need to be able to work together with the Home Office because we can’t do it on our own.
‘Criminal action is only one part of the solution, but the legislation which covers these drugs is ineffective and needs to be reviewed to take into account the impacts they are having.’
Spice users are slumped over a large plant pot as the drug takes hold of their mind and body in Manchester
A man is left collapsed in what appears to be his own vomit, after taking the drug in Lincoln
Cities across the country are battling widespread problems with Spice, with the drug often being used by the homeless.
Users slumped over benches or passed out on the pavement have become common sights in London, Manchester, Lincoln and Newcastle.
East Midlands Ambulance Service, which was called out to a record high 15 drug users in one weekend in July, has previously warned against the use of the drugs.
Wendy Hazard, ambulance operations manager for Nottinghamshire, said: ‘These drugs are dangerous and often contain harmful chemicals which can put lives at risk.
‘When high on synthetics, symptoms can include unconsciousness and slurred speech, all of which mimic someone who is in a life-threatening condition.
The Government has said it is clamping down on those who deal Spice and Black Mamba, with stricter sentences given to those prosecuted
‘Users are risking their own lives due to the harmful chemicals but are also at risk of endangering the lives of others by taking a crew away from someone who really needs them.’
A Home Office spokesman said: ‘We recognise how dangerous synthetic cannabinoids, such as those found in spice and black mamba, can be and the devastating impact that they can have on communities, families and the individuals taking them.
‘That is why we acted to ban these so-called legal highs under the Misuse of Drugs Act and give the police the powers they need to take action, including making possession illegal and delivering longer sentences for dealers.
‘Our new drug strategy has placed recovery and protecting the vulnerable at its heart – supporting people though treatment while tackling the supply of illegal drugs.’