THESE shocking pictures show the devastating toll that the drug Black Mamba is having on Worcester.

Readers have shared pictures of suspected users slumped on city benches in recent weeks.

West Midlands Ambulance Service and West Mercia Police figures seem to show a steady increase in incidents involving the former ‘legal high’.

Steve, a 41-year-old homeless man from Worcester, said: “It’s an escape from reality. That’s why people use it.

“I tried smoking it outside the Hive. I just think about death on it. It put me on another level, by the time I got upstairs in the lift I sat in the window for about three hours.”

Steve, who uses heroin once or twice a week, said his drug-taking began with marijuana, however ‘one thing led to another’ and he eventually started using harder substances.

He said: “The key is to never do it. It’s like a comfort blanket. I only don’t use now as I don’t have any money.

“Most people go on holiday or get a car – I’ve no interest in any of it, I just want to score.”

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman issued a warning about the dangers of untested and unregulated ‘legal highs’.

The spokesman said they can lead to seizures, heart attacks and strokes.

He added: “Users are putting their lives at risk every time they take them. Some patients are left with long term illnesses, whilst others never wake up. The effects can lead to the patient suffering extreme highs and lows which sometimes results in patients appearing to be suffering mental health issues at one end of the scale to extreme violence at the other.

“Because it is impossible to tell what substances are used within the drugs, it can make it extremely difficult for our staff to provide treatment.”

West Midlands Ambulance Service has logged over 2,000 ‘Mamba’ calls so far this year, with incidents rising every month, except for in February.

West Mercia Police figures also show that seizures of synthetic cannabinoids have steadily increased since ‘legal highs’ were banned in 2016.

West Mercia Police Chief Inspector Mel Crowther said: “West Mercia Police is committed to dealing with drug-related criminal activity.

"Black Mamba is a controlled substance and our officers work hard to enforce the law as it stands.

“We work closely with Swanswell, a national alcohol and drugs recovery charity, to refer offenders to get the help they need to tackle their addiction.

“We really want the local community to work with us by reporting any suspicious activity.

"If you have any information relating to drug offences in your local area, please report it to West Mercia Police on 101 or to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

West Midlands Ambulance Service sent paramedics to Broad Street, in Worcester, at around 2.51pm on Saturday to treat a man suspected of using Black Mamba.

The ambulance crew confirmed that the man, who was in his 50s, was smoking the former 'legal high' and drinking.

The paramedics wanted to transport the man to hospital, however he refused to go and the crew ended up taking him back to his home.

Black Mamba is a synthetic marijuana that is smoked.