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A 13-year-old boy addicted to the legal high Spice is "desperate for help" after his family have spoken about their anguish over his behaviour.

Schoolboy Jamie Poulton became dependent on the drug as a way to deal with his mental health issues, which include ADHD.

He now smokes the substance on a daily basis – sometimes throughout the whole day and night until he passes out.

Jamie, who has been brought up by his grandmother Teresa Poulton admits he is "tearing" his family apart and needs help.

He says he is being sold the drug by adults on the street and has become addicted to the substance, which is also known as Annihilation and Black Mamba , and has been claimed to be worse than heroin.

Teresa, 49, told Lincolnshire Live : "He lives with me and I've brought him up, but that also means I get the brunt of him. With the mental illness, he thinks he owns me and I can't have a life.

"Sometimes he takes all his clothes off and climbs drainpipes and lampposts. He smashes up my flat as well. It's all just getting too much.

(Image: Lincolnshire Live)

"It's getting harder and harder and no one is doing anything. I look after him, feed him and clothe him. He can be such a lovely boy but then he gets angry and takes these drugs. He is desperate for help.

"I'm also bringing up my 19-month-old granddaughter now and it's all getting too much. I've been depressed since I was 14 but all I do is good.

"Sometimes I just want to take myself and him in the river and end it all. I'm always there for everyone and no one is ever there for me.

"I try to be strong but I'm at the stage where I can't take anymore."

Jamie admits he needs to start putting his family first.

He said: "I take the drugs but it doesn't help. It's tearing me and my family apart.

"All I think about is drugs but I don't want to think about that. Family comes before drugs but I need help and extra support.

"All Addaction does is give me tea and biscuits and take me to McDonald's."

(Image: Lincolnshire Live)

Spice is a synthetic cannabinoid which has similar effects to natural cannabis, but is much more potent and reacts more strongly with the brain's cannabis receptors.

Regular use can cause a relapse of mental health illness or increase the risk of developing a mental illness especially if you have a family history of mental illness.

Side effects can include psychotic episodes, high fever, rapid pulse, sweating, agitation, confusion, convulsions, organ failure, coma and even death.

Jamie's biological mum Jennifer Poulton, 33, said: "It's the only thing he relies on and it's breaking us down and tearing us apart. You see other legal high users killing themselves and I have nightmares that it'll be my son in the gutter."

Anyone suffering from drug problems can call Frank on 0300 123 6600 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.