ALMOST 40 people become unwell in just two days after taking substances previously known as “legal highs”.

Police in Newcastle have arrested two men for supplying substances thought to be either Spice or Power, which can leave users resembling zombies.

At the height of the spike on Sunday, officers say they were called out to 12 incidents in less than four hours of users found slumped on pavements and park benches across the city and received a total of 17 reports during the course of the day.

Five people were taken to hospital as a precaution, but were all released shortly afterwards.

Despite a police warning issued on Sunday, there have since been another 20 reports of people falling unwell in the city.

One person was taken to hospital as a precaution, but was later discharged.

A 29-year-old Newcastle man has since been charged with possession of a controlled class B drug with intent to supply, while a 19-year-old man who was also arrested has since been released.

The substances, previously known as “legal highs”, were criminalised in December and are now referred to be police as “lethal highs”.

Superintendent Paul Knox, of Newcastle Police, described the spike as “a worryingly high number”.

He added: “None of the six individuals taken to hospital have fallen seriously unwell and other users have not required any medical treatment. Nevertheless, people need to understand the dangers of these substances.

“Lethal highs put people into a zombified state - they become lethargic, slow to respond and are sometimes completely unresponsive.

“We have received calls of genuine concern for these people but many of them don’t want to comply.

“We will do all we can to offer them support but these incidents put a considerable strain on the emergency services who are responding to calls to people being found slumped on pavements and park benches”.

Cllr Nick Kemp, city council cabinet member for Neighbourhoods and Regulatory Services, said: “This spike in reported incidents of lethal highs is very worrying”.