The town that’s fighting back against zombie drug epidemic Police and council join forces to tackle addiction Residents tell of hell as crazed users litter streets

It’s driving us mad. In the end he was chased off by a pensioner.”

In a bid to solve the problem, police put on extra patrols, joining council neighbourhood officers on the streets.

Agencies had already been targeting 115 people highlighted as leading “complex lives” who have been active in the town centre. So far, 66 are in some THE UK is in the grip of a spice epidemic with use of the zombie drug escalating out of control, experts warn.

A Mirror probe reveals the scale of the crisis as thousands are feared to be hooked. Amid calls for a crackdown on dealers, paramedic Richard Bentley said: “It’s getting worse and worse, reaching epidemic proportions.” Richard, a Unison rep who works in Leeds, added: “Recently, form of safe accommodation while 10 are in prison. The others are yet to “engage”. The Mirror joined Chief Inspector Jayne Forrest and Doncaster head of localities Pat Hagan on patrol. Ms Forrest said: “Spice is like the perfect storm, it’s cheap, highly addictive and widely available. We have decided we are not going to sit back and accept this in our town.

“Working alongside the council we are trying to reach out and help these people. “They have some real horror stories. One chap I dealt with used to pull wallpaper off the wall to feed his sister in a cot when he was a child.

the first two hours of my shift were taken up dealing with people smoking spice and in a zombie-like state.”

He told how many users they care for live on the streets, where they can get hold of the drug – a former legal high – for as little as £5 a bag. Richard said: “They are using it as escapism.”

Emergency services are struggling to cope with the spice crisis and there are