A drug that appears to make users go into zombie-like trances could have reached the Isle of Man, health chiefs fear.

The island’s Public Health Directorate today said that Spice was likely to be circulating here.

In Greater Manchester synthetic cannaboids sold as crystal MDMA have led to several hospital admissions - and the sight of users slumped in streets in the city has horrified people there.

The crystals were tested and found to contain ’Spice’.

Spice products are dangerous in their own right and have been linked to multiple hospital admissions and eight deaths in the UK last year.

The Manx Public Health Directorate says the crystallised forms of these drugs are more dangerous and likely to result in severe or fatal toxicity.

The crystals can vary in size and colour and may also be crushed and appear as a powder.

It may not be possible to differentiate between them and other forms of crystallized or powdered drugs.

If the drug has been mixed with Spice even tiny amounts may still be potent enough to make users seriously ill.

Manx health bosses say families, carers and others in contact with users should be vigilant for the signs of overdose which include: extreme aggression; manic behaviour; rigid muscles; foaming of mouth; fast racing pulse; shallowed breathing.

The Public Health Directorate is urging anyone who thinks they may have taken the drug or knows someone who begins to show symptoms to call an ambulance immediately.

A spokesman said that users should be extremely cautious about the sources of their drugs and should seek treatment and advice from the Drug and Alcohol Team by calling 617889.

Any users not in contact with the Drug and Alcohol Team should seek support from the team to reduce their risk of harm.