Key learning for the month – please open and share in team meetings or supervision and print out and display on noticeboards.

Current Month summary

  • If suspecting someone of using SPICE, stay curious, they may be drowsy because of other prescribed medication, check for recent changes.
  • See SPICE use as an opportunity to educate the patient in a non-judgemental way about risks, especially if also taking anti-psychotics.
  • If declining to administer medication because you suspect the person may be sedated or intoxicated, contact the prescriber and share your thoughts.
  • If you are a prescriber and your patient is regularly using SPICE consider taking ECG measures and alternative prescribed medications that may be safer.
  • When SPICE use is suspected, avoid quetiapine and other antipsychotics that prolong QTc; studies show that aripiprazole and olanzapine are the most cardiac safe in this scenario.