Black mamba is prevalent in ‘all levels of drug taking in Nottingham’

‘Black mamba’ is now being used by all cross-sections of Nottingham’s drugs users, a city recovery expert has warned.

The synthetic cannabis, commonly known as ‘spice’ or ‘mamba’ became associated with homeless people who use drugs after groups of people were pictured unconscious during a spate of city centre incidents last summer.

However, Clinical Specialist Neil Brooks says the ‘zombie drug’ is being used more widely, including “experimental users and the clubbing population”.

He spoke as Nottingham Recovery Network launches a specialist clinic to help the increasing number of people addicted to the drug.

Mr Brooks says many people start using spice wrongly believing it is a legal cannabis, and “when the drug was made illegal to sell in shops, the demand didn’t go away”.

Spice and Black Mamba are common names for the synthetic drugs which mimic cannabis.

Already organising an outreach team to help homeless addicts, the clinic aims to get the ‘hidden population’ of spice users into help.

“Feedback from mamba users says they don’t feel traditional services cater for their needs,” said Neil.

The dedicated service helps spice addicts with talking therapy, prescription drugs or rehab.

Although designed to mimic the hallucinogenic effects of cannabis, spice is far more potent and can leave users unconscious, in a distinctive frozen, zombie-like state or cause breathing difficulties.

The psychoactive drug became an illegal Class B drug in 2016 under the Psychoactive Substances Act, yet usage since is believed to have increased.

This is thought to be due to it being far cheaper than other drugs, including cannabis, and being more addictive.

Last summer a Nottingham man died in the first incident of a fatality linked to the drug in the city.

East Midlands Ambulance Service has seen an increase in calls relating to the drug, at one point receiving up to six calls a day.

(Visited 512 times, 1 visits today)