Stop taking photos of 'spice zombies', council says

Substance abuse charity praises local authority's 'humane' approach to dealing with notorious former legal high

Spice became a banned Class B substance in 2016, although 20 police and crime commissioners from across Britain have called for it to be upgraded to Class A. (Getty)

A council has urged the public to show “compassion” by not taking photographs of people on the streets suffering the effects of the drug spice.

Residents they should instead seek help if they see someone under the influence of the substance, Sheffield City Council said.

“Spice can be distressing for both the user and members of the public. Please be compassionate by not taking photos,” the local authority wrote on Twitter.

The council also advised people to call 999 if they find someone lying seriously ill or unconscious on the street.

Spice addicts are often colloquially referred to as “zombies”, due to the debilitating effect the synthetic cannabis substitute can have on addicts.

Pictures and footage from across Britain of users of the drug slumped unconscious on the floor or struggling to stand are regularly shared on social media.

Substance abuse charity Addaction commended Sheffield Council’s “humane” approach to problems surrounding the drug, saying people who take spice are “unwell”.

“Compassion for people whose lives have taken a wrong turn is really important,” a spokesman for the charity said. “Sheffield City Council are taking a humane and sensible approach; we commend them for it. Taking photos of people when they're unwell is unhelpful.

“Nobody decides to become dependent on spice, things happen over time which can lead people down that road. People need help not judgment.”

Spice first became prevalent in the UK as a legal high, but soon developed a notorious reputation for its ability to trigger severe side effects including psychosis, hallucinations and aggressive behaviour.

Its use has become particularly widespread in prisons, where some staff have reported falling ill or fainting due to exposure to smoke from the drug.

Spice became a banned Class B substance in 2016, although 20 police and crime commissioners from across Britain have called for it to be upgraded to Class A, the most serious category.

Additional reporting by Press Association