The spice trail: transitions in synthetic cannabis receptor agonists (SCRAs) use in English prisons and on release

Abstract

Since 2010, synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) have dominated concerns about drug use in prison; particularly as their use increases in custody and has profound impacts on users, non-users and prison staff. However, far less is known about whether SCRA use continues on release, when ex-prisoners are under the supervision of Community Rehabilitation Companies or resident in Approved Premises (APs). This study, the first of its type, examined experiences of SCRAs amongst recently released ex-prisoners and found that, most often, use discontinues on release, suggesting that SCRAs are seen predominantly as a ‘prison drug’ or, for those continuing use, as a way to avoid a positive drug test and/or breaching their licence whilst living in an APs. Awareness of SCRA use amongst their clients differed notably between Community Rehabilitation Company staff and APs staff; with the former having far less awareness and thus, also far less experience of the associated problems for supervision of their clients.

Keywords:

• NPS
• spice
• synthetic cannabinoids
• prison
• drugs
• probation

Notes

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia, and Sweden.

2 SCRAs are a range of substances which are most commonly referred to as ‘Spice’ and this was also the term generally used by interviewees.

3 APs were introduced by the Offender Management Act (2007), replacing probation and bail hostels. APs are run by the National Probation Service and generally provide accommodation for high-risk offenders (often originally convicted for violent or sex offences) who have been released from prison on license.

4 The 21 CRCs were set up across England and Wales under the Offender Rehabilitation Act (2014) and are responsible for the management of low to medium risk offenders, including released prisoners who were sentenced to less than 12 months of imprisonment.

5 A full report of the findings has been published separately (see Lloyd, Perry, & Grace, 2018).

6 CRC Hubs are held in normally community buildings where clients meet with their offender management for supervision.

7 Spice Challenges comprise persuading someone to take a large amount of SCRA at once. Fellow prisoners then watch, and frequently film, the prisoner under the influence of the drug for their entertainment.

8 It should be noted that these cases were part of this CRC staff member’s caseload and not our own study sample.

Additional information

Funding

This article presents independent research funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Policy Research Programme (Grant Number PR-X06-1014-22005).