Homeless Hotels Drug and Alcohol Support Service (HDAS-London)
Spice Workbook Spice recovery workbook for completion on your own or with support.
Speak to your hotel worker if you feel you may need support with this workbook. They will be able to advise on the best person to help.
This workbook belongs to:____________________________ _
These workbooks have been provided by partner agencies as part of the HDAS service,
Homeless Hotels Drug and Alcohol Support Service (HDAS-London)
Spice belongs to a group of drugs called the Synthetic Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists or SCRAs. There are many types with many different names, as you can see from the diagram above.
SPICE - SELF STUDY PACK
Black Mamba
Moon Rocks
Bombay Blue
Zohai
GenieGreen Crack
Yucatan FireSpice
Rice
BlissMan Down
Fake weed
Zombie Spice
K2
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INTRODUCTION
This is a self-study workbook for you to work through. Please take time to work through this pack and be as honest as possible. This pack is for your own reflection on your use of spice, however if you wish to discuss it further please contact a member of the hotel team who can speak to HDAS or the local drug and alcohol team.
CONTENTSWorksheet 1 What is Spice?
Worksheet 2 Sensations, Effects and Safety
Worksheet 3 You and your use of spice
Worksheet 4 Different types of drug users
Worksheet 5 You and your life
Worksheet 6 Myth or reality quiz
Worksheet 7 Your drug use
Worksheet 8 Effects on you
Worksheet 9 The legal stuff
Worksheet 10 Harm reduction
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Homeless Hotels Drug and Alcohol Support Service (HDAS-London)
WORKSHEET 1: WHAT IS SPICE? (Bears no relation to the cannabis plant)
Spice belongs to class of drugs called the Synthetic Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists or SCRAs, there are many types with many different names
Spice is a man-made mind-altering chemical that is sprayed on to dried, shredded plant material or paper, that mimics the effects of a chemical in cannabis called THC, However Spice Contains NO THC as it is a laboratory made substance. Spice was previously often labelled “Not for Human Consumption” and disguised as incense, to get around the law.
Spice is poly drug use in one bag. It Can have up to 100 different combination of chemicals- this is one of the reasons why the effect is never the same.
• Most people smoke whatever “spice” comes in the packet.
The chemicals used in Spice have a high potential for abuse and no medical benefit, the Drug Enforcement Administration has made many of the active chemicals most frequently found in Spice illegal. However, the people who make these products try to avoid these lays by using different chemicals in their mixtures.
Spice hits the cannabinoid receptors on brain cells to produce a high, but comparing spice to natural marijuana is like comparing a BB gun to an M-16.
Sellers of Spice try to lead people to believe they are ‘natural’ and therefore harmless, but they are neither.
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WORKSHEET 2: SENSATIONS, EFFECTS AND SAFETY
‘Spice has the physical addictive qualities of heroin and thepsychologically addictive qualities of crack’
Robert Ralphs, senior lecturer in criminology at the Manchester Metropolitan University and an expert on the drug.
Using Spice: Spice has been linked to increase in violence, hallucinations, anxiety and psychotic episodes-often resulting in the development or worsening of mental health problems or even death. Remember the risks-is it worth it?
Synthetic cannabinoids (spice) bears no relation to the cannabis plant. It is sometimes misleadingly called ‘synthetic marijuana’ or ‘fake weed’, and they are often marketed as ‘safe’, legal alternatives to that drug. In fact, their actual effects can be unpredictable and, in some cases, severe or even life-threatening.Additionally, there are many chemicals that remain unidentified in products sold as Spice and it is therefore not clear how they may affect the user. Different mixtures come with different side effects, spice users have withdrawal and addiction symptoms. Most of them report ‘feeling obliged’ to smoke spice if they have it nearby, and other may go as far as craving for it just like with ‘harder drugs’.
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Mental effects on people using Spice are many and various with symptoms of….
Spice can, and does, kill. Most spice-related deaths are abrupt, a minority occur after being admitted in hospital, for example after a coma.
The physical effects on people using Spice are many and various with symptoms of….
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WORKSHEET 3: YOU AND YOUR SPICE USE
1. When did you start using spice?
2. What made you start using it?
3. How often do you use spice?
4. How much do you spend on it per week?
5. How have you managed to handle your finances whilst using Spice?
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6. Will you carry on smoking Spice? Is so why?
7.What support would you need to cut down/stop using Spice?
Food for thought
Spice attack. This may include people vomiting, screaming, and being unable to function. Just because it hasn’t happened to you yet doesn’t mean it won’t ever. You may also think this happens to others and not yourself because ‘you know how to dose it’…just because you know how to walk doesn’t mean you never trip. Also remember, with Spice you don’t know what you’re smoking for sure. Every batch is different. Think of the image you portray yourself as before you smoke. It may put you in a vulnerable position. Remember spice is addictive so even if you do not have side effects at first, they may develop later.
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WORKSHEET 4: Different types of drug users’
People use drugs for different reasons in different situations. The following explanations may be helpful in understanding why you may use drugs.
Experimentation – people take a drug because they are curious about what the effects feel like.
Recreational drugs – people use this term when they take drugs for pleasure, or in a social setting such as a party or a club.
Problem drug use – this is when using drugs has a harmful effect on a persons life. They may feel like they need to use a certain drug to cope with their life. Using in this way is likely to have a negative effect on relationships, finances, health and staying on the right side of the law.
Can you relate to one of the above statements, if so which of the above describes you and why?
Do you think you are, have been or will develop a problem using Spice?
What would be the biggest challenges to stop?
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WORKSHEET 5: YOU AND YOUR LIFE
How do you think Spice has affected . . . . . .
Your sleep?
Your social life?
Your mental health?
Your physical health?
Your family life?
Any other aspects of your life? Please state and give reasons.
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WORKSHEET 6: MYTH OR REALITY QUIZ
Spice and Cannabis are very similar in their composition Reality Myth
You can get arrested for having Spice on you Reality Myth
Spice is a psychoactive drug Reality Myth
The number of spice-related deaths has increased Reality Myth
You cannot get addicted to Spice Reality Myth
Spice can be relaxing Reality Myth
Spice can make you paranoid and skip meals Reality Myth
Some Spice is legal Reality Myth
Spice is poly drug use Reality Myth
If someone is having a psychotic episode on Spice
you should give them a sweet to suck on?
Reality Myth
One sachet of a Spice may contain 76 different
Chemicals like Meow Meow, Speed, THC,
Crystal Meth, Crack or Heroin
CHECK YOUR ANSWERS AT THE BACK OF THIS WORKBOOK!
Reality Myth
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WORKSHEET 7: YOUR DRUG USE
1. How have you funded your Spice use in the past?
2. Have you had any periods when you have not used Spice? If yes, for how long and what stopped you from using?
3. Have you noticed a difference in the way you smoke from the first time you tried and now?
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WORKSHEET 8: EFFECTS ON YOU
Does Spice make you feel…
Better about yourself and your life? Please explain how.
Worse about yourself and your life? Please explain how.
More confident about yourself and your life? Please explain how.
More relaxed about yourself and your life? Please explain how.
Do you think there is a link between spice use and your behaviour? Please explain your answer.
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WORKSHEET 9: THE LEGAL STUFF
The Psychoactive Substances Act [PSA], became law on May 26th 2016. A large number of the chemicals in spice and any mixtures that contain
these including Black Mamba and Annihilation, are Class B drugs and are illegal to have, give away or sell.
The possession and supply of Spice in prisons criminal offences, with maximum sentences up to two and seven years and/or an unlimited fine.
The availability of improved testing for Spice increases the likelihood of testing positive for Spice use and, thereby, suffering the Criminal Justice consequences of a positive test.
‘It’s awful to come off it — you rattle, I’ve tried to get off it, but it’s harder than gear’
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WORKSHEET 10: HARM MINIMISATION
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See below – The recovery position
If someone is unconscious: there’s always the risk of death.DON’T LEAVE THEM UNATTENDEDLay the person on the floor in the ‘recovery position’.This means:
• Rolling them onto their side.• The person should not be on their back, this can kill.• Check their mouth is empty. Tilt their head back slightly and lift chin back to open their airway.• So that their head has something to rest on, take the arm they’re not lying on and place it under their cheek. Don’t put a pillow under their head.• Take the leg that’s not being rested on and bend it up towards their chest at a right angle.• Check to see how their breathing is. Don’t give them anything to drink
• Call for HELP
Tips for a friends/family
If someone’s having a bad timeIf they start to panic and breathe fast, sit with them and reassure them they’ll soon be OK.
• Get them to breathe deeply and slowly.
• Give them sips of water (nothing else). NO Sweets ( They could choke and die)
• Try not to leave them aloneand get medical help.
• Try not to let them fall asleep orlose consciousness.
If you are going to smoke.DANGER IN THE DOSE
Test dosing: taking a very small amount
Sit down before you use. In case you fall over.
Test dosing: ALL YOU NEED IS A SIZE OF A MATCH STICK
HEAD OR A PINCH and wait an adequate amount of time before
re-dosing.Ideally Wait 2 hours before re-
dosing
Spice should not be smoked neat
With white powder DO NOT sniff like a line-it is a
PURE CHEMICAL, again aPINCH like above.
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WORKSHEET 6: MYTH OR REALITY QUIZ ANSWERS
Spice and Cannabis are very similar in their composition –a Myth as looked at earlier in this pack Spice is a man-made mind-altering chemical that is sprayed on to dried, shredded plant material or paper, that mimics the effects of a chemical in cannabis called THC, However Spice Contains NO THC as it is a laboratory made substance.
You can get arrested for having Spice on you Reality –Despite it first being labelled as a “legal high”This is a psychoactive drug and is covered by the 2016 Psychoactive Substances Act, which means it’s illegal to give away or sell.There’s no penalty for possession, unless you’re in prison.Supply and production can get you up to 7 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both
Spice is a psychoactive drugReality.The actual effects can be unpredictable and, in some cases, severe or even life-threatening, Additionally, there are many chemicals that remain unidentified in products sold as Spice.
The number of spice-related deaths has increasedReality – Since spice first was created it has evolved and there are many different types of spice. The number of people who have lost their life due to spice is increasing.
You cannot get addicted to Spice?Myth – People who have used spice report that spice was harder to come off than Heroin or Crack Cocaine.
Spice can be relaxing?Myth – Spice hits the cannabinoid receptors on brain cells to produce a high.
Spice can make you paranoid and skip meals?Reality – Spice can affect your mental health which could include paranoia, anxiety, hallucinating, confusion and suicidal thoughts – it can also affect your physical health and by not eating meals can contribute to weight loss and other physical health issues. Some Spice is legal?Myth - The Psychoactive Substances Act [PSA], became law on May 26th 2016.
Spice is poly drug use?Reality -Due to Spice containing many different chemicals it can have over 70 different chemicals in one bag, this is one of the reasons why effects are not the same.
If someone is having a psychotic episode on Spice you should give them a sweet to suck on?Myth - They could choke, If someone is experiencing a psychotic episode on spice, call an ambulance.
One sachet of a Spice may contain 76 different Chemicals like Meow Meow, Speed, THC, Crystal Meth, Crack or Heroin?RealitySpice contains many different chemicals so the individual is never sure what experience that they are going to get from smoking spice. This is one of the biggest risks due to it being unknown so tolerance levels are hard to gauge.
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Specialist support services are available to help with problems with drinking or drugs. You can access non-judgemental advice and information about how to keep safe and discuss potential treatment and support options. Speak to the hotel staff who can help put you in touch with a local service.