Zombie drugs health threat

POLICE have been left feeling “helpless” in the fight against 21st century “zombie” drugs, a senior officer has warned.

Chief Insp Dave Jolly said new psychoactive substances, including Spice and Black Mamba, are the biggest challenge he’s faced in a three-decade career.

The drugs have havoc across the UK.

In Wales, Wrexham hit the headlines this year after photos and videos of drug users apparently comatose and on the streets were made public.

“I think for me, I’ve got over 29 years, I see it as probably the most significant challenge in policing, certainly in Wrexham,” Chief Inspector Dave Jolly, of North Wales Police, told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“And having spoken to people across the UK who are feeling the same pain from these chaotic users, I think we’re all feeling slightly helpless around how we are we going to actually work through this challenge.”

Tony Ormond is a co-ordinator at Caniad, a collection of North Wales health authorities and charities working to involve people dealing with drug, alcohol and mental health problems

“I think we need to plan for the long term,” he told the station.

“I think mental health services are under-resourced as it is, and over-populated.

“We need to forecast that this is potentially a mental health timebomb for five to 10 years, that it’s going to put extra strain on mental health.

“But in the short term, I think we need to combat it with love, compassion and understanding.”

Spice and other so-called legal highs were banned by the Government in 2016. But the drugs remain a major issue with people addicted to them.

The UK Government has claimed that since the ban the use of drugs like Spice and Black Mamba is down, sentences for possession and supply have increased, and its strategy is working.

Martin Blakebrough, of drug charity Kaleidoscope, said: “A lot of the time these drugs are not Spice, they could be something worse like Fentanyl.

“One of the dangers is that you misdiagnose someone.

“Like everywhere it has particular areas of impact.

“We talk about heroin users and injecting rooms.” wrought