‘Spice’, a synthetic form of cannabis, is ravaging homeless communities in some of the UK’s most deprived regions, particularly the north of England and south Wales.

Blackpool Lancashire, with five of its neighbourhoods among the 10-most deprived areas in England, already struggling within unemployment now finds itself grappling with the drug, often because it’s cheaper than alcohol or heroin.

Lee Dribben, CEO for The Ashley Foundation, based in Blackpool, said: “Locally, a gram of ‘spice’ costs between around £8 – enough to make 20 spliffs that will get about 40 people high.”

This experience is not unique to Blackpool. Research by Northumbria University, in Newcastle, found that legal highs are fuelling a spike in antisocial behaviour and aggressive begging across the north-east of England. Last year in Newcastle alone, more than 1,100 police hours were spent dealing with incidents related to legal highs.

In the US spice’s impact on homeless communities is proving devastating, with scores of deaths reported monthly. The American Association of Poison Control Centres reports that visits to emergency rooms across the US caused by spice have risen from 13 in 2009 to 1,500 this April alone.

“Two or three good hits and you’re in oblivion. Often users are aggressive. And with that their empathy toward one-another disappears,” added Dribben.

The government has pledged to tackle the problem. It’s now a criminal offence to supply and import psychoactive substances, with offenders facing prison sentences of up to seven years.

“But prohibition is unlikely to deter homeless users,” Dribben said.

“Many homeless people use the drug as a coping mechanism to escape childhood trauma or other deep-rooted issues.” explained Dribben.

There are many and varied reasons why people become homeless. Relationship breakdown, domestic violence, young people asked to leave home, people with drug and alcohol or mental health issues who are unable to sustain an independent lifestyle and more recently due to recession, where someone might lose their job and are then are unable to pay their mortgage or rent, the list goes on and on.

The Ashley Foundation is determined to offer the opportunity and the support necessary to encourage and enable personal growth and self-development. Our aim is to empower individuals to develop the necessary skills through a programme of high support and educational opportunities, which will enable them to move into independent living and successfully sustain their own tenancy.

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The Ashley Foundation (TAF) is a registered homeless charity, established in 1997 for the purpose of providing accommodation and support to ‘homeless individuals in need’. Committed to treating individuals with dignity and respect, TAF is determined to offer the opportunity and the support necessary to encourage and enable personal growth and self-development. There are many and varied reasons why people become homeless. Relationship breakdown, domestic violence, young people asked to leave home, people with drug and alcohol or mental health issues who are unable to sustain an independent lifestyle and more recently due to recession, where someone might lose their job and are then are unable to pay their mortgage or rent, the list goes on and on. Helping someone to rebuild relationships with family or friends, stay in education, take up employment and training opportunities or deal with their drug and alcohol or mental health problem is as much about tackling homelessness as is securing a roof over their head. For more information visit https://www.theashleyfoundation.org.uk.