Spice Addiction

Spice is a colloquial term for a range of ‘designer drugs’ or synthetic substances made to mimic the mechanism of key compounds in cannabis. Spice can carry risks similar to those experienced in heavy cannabis use. However, they are also associated with additional dangers. Recent research indicates that withdrawing from spice can be more difficult than withdrawing from cannabis, as the symptoms can be ‘more severe.’ This suggests that spice has strong addiction potential and indicates that many may struggle to quell their addictions independently. This suggests the need for formal therapeutic intervention to successfully treat an addiction to spice.

What is spice?

Spice is a type of synthetic cannabinoid. This means that it is an artificial substance created to mimic the effects of THC. THC (short for tetrahydrocannabinol) is the main psychoactive ingredient found in cannabis/marijuana. This means that THC is the compound linked to the stimulant qualities linked with a cannabis high.

Whilst spice is perhaps the most common street name for synthetic cannabinoids, they are also referred to by a range of other names, such as:

• Amsterdam gold
• Annihilation
• Black mamba
• Blue cheese
• Bombay blue extreme
• Clockwork orange
• Devil’s weed
• Ecsess
• Exodus damnation
• K2
• Mary joy
• Tai high Hawaiian haze
• X

Spice can be taken in several different ways. The method of use will alter how quickly you experience the high and how long it lasts for. Popular modes of use include:

• Mixing with tobacco and smoking
• Smoking on its own
• Inhaling through a vape in liquid form
• Consuming when mixed with food or drink
• Eating edibles (consuming food products pre-prepared with synthetic cannabis)

On average, a spice high’s effects can last between 1 and 6 hours.

What does a spice high look like?

The way that you react to a specific substance will depend on many factors, such as:

• Previous drug use
• Current health
• Your metabolism
• The strength of the drug
• The quantity of the drug
• The method of use
• If other substances are being used

Your experience with spice differs between uses. This makes using the substance somewhat unpredictable.

A spice high often includes:

• Feeling relaxed
• Boosted mood
• Anxiety
• Paranoia
• Rapid mood swings
• Sedative effects
• Feeling sick
• Sweating
• Reduced coordination
• Disorientation
• Pins and needles in the extremities
• Change in perception
• Hallucinations
• Panic attacks

One element that feeds into the changeability of a spice high is that substances labelled as ‘spice’ are frequently cut with other drugs. It has been known to be cut with synthetic opioids that can be potentially lethal. This both increases the addiction risk and heightens the acute threat to physical safety that spice abuse poses.

Spice addiction

Clinical research indicates that it is possible to become addicted to the synthetic cannabinoids present in spice. Cessation of use has been associated with a range of withdrawal symptoms, such as:

• Problems with sleep
• Irritability
• Low mood
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Anxiety and panic

These withdrawal symptoms indicate that a level of both physiological and psychological dependence on spice can be developed.

Spice addiction signs

Identifying an addiction can be difficult – especially if we are required to reflect on our own relationship with a substance. There are some key indicators of substance addiction more generally. These include:

• Social withdrawal or isolation
• Appearing agitated or irritable
• Anxiety or panic
• Appearing distracted
• Lethargy
• Low motivation
• Changes in sleep
• Changes in eating
• Changes in weight
• Difficulty meeting work or school commitments
• Relationship conflict
• Financial difficulties
• Feeling generally unwell
• Frequent aches and pains
• Symptoms of depression
• Symptoms of anxiety
• Becoming deceitful or defensive

Specific spice addiction symptoms include:

• Experiencing hot flashes
• Difficulty regulating temperature
• Chest pain
• Respiratory issues
• Paranoia
• Appearing ‘spaced out’

Why is spice addictive?

Due to how synthetic cannabinoids are used, it can be very difficult to identify the ‘dose’ taken. This can lead to people taking more of the drug than planned. This means that casual use can quickly escalate into a more frequent habit as the amounts used increase over time. This reinforces physical dependency as, over time, you will require more of the drug to achieve the same hit.

Risks

Taking large quantities also runs the risk of leading to serious health consequences such as kidney failure, serotonin syndrome and psychotic episodes. In some instances, synthetic cannabinoid use can lead to death. This risk is further heightened in the context of polydrug use (the use of more than one substance at the same time).

Spice is also associated with social use – this type of setting (especially with ‘party drugs’) can influence people to use substances more regularly whilst socialising. This could lead to initial use through peer pressure. It can also, however, lead to repeat use and difficulty in abstaining in the future. This can make recovering from spice addiction whilst maintaining social connections particularly difficult and can lead to tensions in our relationships with specific circles.

Spice is now considered illegal under the 2016 Psychoactive Substance Act. This means that supplying or producing spice can lead to a fine or up to 7 years in prison. Engaging with spice means engaging with the illicit drug market, which carries risks to both social and physical health. Spice is often purchased online. This is a particularly risky way of accessing the substance as there is no way to establish what the drug you are buying really contains. This increases the risk of engaging with drugs of a higher class or drugs that carry further threats to well-being.

Help for spice addiction

Accessing help

If you are addicted to spice, the first step to take is to seek support.  The idea of talking about the situation may fuel a range of mixed emotions. However, confidential, non-judgemental, and sensitive support is available. You can do this in many ways, such as reaching out to:

• A trusted friend or family member
• A primary health clinician (such as a GP)
• A social worker
• A specialist addiction support service

I think my loved one is addicted to spice. What should I do?

Seeing a friend or family member grapple with addiction can be very difficult. It can be tricky to know how to offer support without appearing to be interfering. This makes being sensitive, open, neutral and supportive very important. The best ways to support a loved one dealing with an addiction are:

• Raise your concern and offer support
• Refrain from making
• Practise active listening
• Offer to accompany them to related appointments
• Regularly check-in
• Offer social support
• Learn about addiction
• Set boundaries
• Alert emergency services if you identify an acute threat to physical health

Seek support

Here at Banbury Lodge, we can help you take the steps to move towards an addiction-free future. Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation with a member of our team. We are here to lend a listening, non-judgmental ear and guide you through options for your next steps towards sobriety. Addiction is a heavy weight to carry, but you do not need to bear it alone. We are available to talk you through the bespoke rehab packages we offer to help you find the most appropriate treatment for your current needs.

Frequently Asked Questions