A sudden surge in people taking synthetic highs led to a group of nine people being found slumped together in one Nottingham street after taking the ‘zombie drug’ spice.
East Midlands Ambulance Service said it was inundated with calls over Saturday and Sunday to deal with people across Nottingham and Derby who were thought to have taken substances including Mamba and Spice.
Paramedics found groups of people with similar symptoms – in one case on Saturday evening nine people were found slumped close together in doorways on Milton Street in Nottingham, struggling to breathe or speak.
Often called ‘spice’, the substances mimic the effects of strong cannabis – but are far more potent. Users can end up in zombie-like states, unable to move or communicate.
Mum Natalie Boardman witnessed one person on Milton Street, close to the Victoria Centre, who appeared to be suffering the effects of the drug.
“At 8.30pm I was walking to catch a bus with my two children and saw one of these men in a zombie state, with two policemen trying to help him.
“We had been for a meal on Mansfield Road but beginning to think towns starting to become a ‘no go’ area early evening with the kids.”
Wendy Hazard, ambulance operations manager for Nottinghamshire said: “We’ve had previous cases reported of patients using synthetic drugs, however, this weekend crews were reporting case after case.
“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.
“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.”
In the Milton Street incident, all but one of the patients refused to be taken to hospital for further treatment.
It was one of 10 Nottingham incidents over the weekend, involving a total of 22 patients believed to have taken spice.
The surge follows disturbing video of two people thought suffering of the effects of the drugs in St Ann’s.
Ray McKenzie said he found the two men hunched and staggering in the street in footage which emerged on Friday.
Several ambulance crews were dispatched to the weekend incidents, but medics say they often struggle to engage with sufferers.
A service spokesman added: “In many cases the patients declined assistance, refused to give us their details and didn’t want to be treated or go to hospital.
“Whilst attempting to care for these patients some of our crews were also assaulted both physically and verbally. A crew from Derby were physically assaulted twice in one shift by patients who had taken this drug.
“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.”
The drugs were formerly known as ‘legal highs’ but were made illegal a year ago.
