Prison nurses and healthcare staff are facing serious health risks from toxic fumes of synthetic drugs such as spice, according to the Royal College of Nursing (RCN). The RCN has reported incidents of staff being knocked unconscious, experiencing nausea, hallucinations, and debilitating headaches after inhaling drug smoke while treating prisoners.
The scale of the problem has escalated, with one nurse reportedly treating over 50 prisoners for spice effects in a single week at one prison. In County Durham, an NHS trust withdrew staff from a wing of HMP Holme House due to safety concerns. The RCN blames existing guidance that requires staff to enter unventilated cells to administer care, even when toxic smoke is present.
Spice and similar synthetic drugs are cheap and easily smuggled into prisons, often by impregnating envelope flaps with the substance. The chemical composition varies between batches, leading to unpredictable effects including rapid heartbeat, disorientation, aggression, unconsciousness, and death. Vulnerable inmates are frequently targeted by dealers offering free samples to test the drugs.
The Prison Officers' Association has described the situation as 'beyond crisis point'. In response, Michael Spurr, chief executive of HM Prison and Probation Service, has agreed to meet with the RCN and NHS England to discuss urgent action. The RCN is calling for an immediate review of safety guidance to address the risks posed by synthetic psychoactive substances.
