If Spice or another synthetic cannabinoid has become something you rely on, or you are worried about it, therapy can help you work out what comes next. I work with adults aged 18 and over only.
What this covers
Spice is the name for synthetic cannabinoids: artificial chemicals that act on the same brain receptors as cannabis. FRANK says they are sprayed onto dried herbs, added to vape liquids or put in sweets. Names include Spice, Mamba and K2. Strength is unpredictable, and they are often stronger than cannabis. Most are Class B. The wider group of newer drugs, once called legal highs, are now called novel psychoactive substances (NPS).
Signs use may be becoming a problem
- Using more often, or in larger amounts, than you meant to
- Feeling you need it to relax, sleep or get through the day
- Feeling anxious, paranoid or low after using
- Feeling irritable, sweaty or unable to sleep when you go without
- Using even though you do not know what is in what you are smoking or vaping
- Worrying about what it is doing to your mental health
Risks and getting medical help: read this
FRANK says you can never be sure how powerful a dose of these drugs is. It lists seizures, fits, a raised heart rate, chest pain, paranoia, panic attacks and psychotic episodes, and says deaths have been linked to them. It also warns that street products can be cut with dangerous synthetic opioids called nitazenes.
- Regular use can lead to dependence, and FRANK lists withdrawal symptoms. If you use often, speak to your GP or a local drug service first, or contact FRANK on 0300 123 6600. I cannot prescribe or manage withdrawal.
- Call 999 if someone has a seizure or chest pain or is seriously unwell, and tell the crew everything you know.
Support you can get alongside therapy
Therapy sits alongside medical care, not instead of it. How to get treatment without going through your GP, and where to find helplines. If you use Spice regularly, a GP or local drug service can advise on withdrawal and any medical support; FRANK can point you to one.
What therapy can offer
- Looking at what Spice does for you, whether that is switching off, sleep or fitting in, and what else could do some of that work
- Support with the anxiety, paranoia or low mood that can follow use
- Thinking through cutting down or stopping, alongside advice from your GP or drug service
- Working on cravings and triggers, and planning for the days after
Confidentiality
Worried about your job or your driving licence? What I report, and what stays between us.
If it is someone you love
It can be frightening to watch someone you love use a drug where nobody knows what is in it, and you can have support of your own. Support for families and loved ones.
Short answers to common questions
Is Spice the same as cannabis?
No. Synthetic cannabinoids are artificial chemicals that act on the same brain receptors as cannabis, but FRANK says they are often more potent and that you can never be 100% sure how strong a dose is. That makes it easier to take too much. FRANK also says hallucinations are more likely than with cannabis.
Is Spice addictive?
Yes, regular use can lead to dependence, according to FRANK. It says you might have psychological and physical withdrawals when you stop. If you use most days, speak to your GP or a local drug service, or call FRANK on 0300 123 6600. Therapy can help with cravings and with why Spice became part of your day.
What are Spice withdrawal symptoms?
FRANK lists cravings, irritability, mood changes, loss of appetite, weight loss, difficulty sleeping, sweating, shaking and diarrhoea. It does not give a timescale, so ask a GP or local drug service what to expect. I can work alongside them on cravings, sleep worries and low mood, but I cannot manage withdrawal.
Is Spice illegal in the UK?
Yes. FRANK says most synthetic cannabinoids are Class B, with up to 5 years in prison for possession and up to 14 years for supply. Others fall under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016, which covers novel psychoactive substances (NPS), once sold as legal highs. Supplying or producing them can bring up to 7 years, and possession is only an offence in prison.
Can Spice cause psychosis or paranoia?
It can. FRANK lists paranoia and panic attacks as bad reactions, and says psychotic episodes can happen and in extreme cases last for weeks. It adds that regular use may worsen an existing mental illness or raise the risk of developing one. If you are worried, see your GP; therapy can help with anxiety and how you cope.