PRISON officers at a jail facing an escalating crisis over drugs are "dropping like flies" after inadvertently inhaling a dangerous psychoactive substance.

The Prison Officers Association (POA) said since January, Holme House Prison, Stockton has seen up to 22 Spice-related incidents, many including violence, in a single day, leaving many officers hallucinating with racing heartbeats.

The association has issued an alert over officers' safety as a 5.6kg stash of a substance believed to be Spice, was discovered in cappuccino, Oats-so-Simple and Weetabix packets during two cell searches at the jail, which is being overwhelmed by drugs to such an extent the Government awarded it £9m last December to crackdown on users.

The POA believes it to be the largest haul of a psycho-active substance ever found in a UK prison.

Cleveland Police has launched an investigation into how containers with 1.6kg and 4kg of the substance were smuggled into the category B jail, which houses inmates for "whom escape still needs to be made very difficult".

The record drugs find at the jail, which mainly serves communities of the Tees Valley, South West Durham, East Durham and North Yorkshire, has been estimated to be worth up to £200,000.

As the Prison Officers Association (POA) confirmed drugs were being smuggled into the jail on an industrial scale, it revealed unprecedented numbers of its officers at the jail were being hit by Spice fumes, which can be smoked, vaporised in a boiling kettle or impregnated into objects such as paper.

The POA stated: 
* There are 16 staff on sick absence following being either intentionally poisoned by or passively inhaling Spice
* Since January, the prison has seen up to 22 Spice-related incidents, many including violence, in a single day
* Last Wednesday, eight staff, and on Thursday, 12, went off sick from Spice, some of whom are still suffering symptoms
* Affected officers symptoms have included racing heartbeats, high blood pressure, seizures, palpitations, vomiting, lack of bowel control, anxiety, hallucinations, depression and aggression.

Stockton North MP Alex Cunningham said he would press the Home Office to launch an inquiry into the discovery at the jail.

He said: "It is absolutely stunning that so much can get through the prison security system. We were promised Holme House would become a drug-free prison, but what we are getting is a worsening situation.

"Officers are clearly suffering. I've heard it's easier to get hold of drugs in prison than it is toothpaste.

"There's no doubt the smuggling is organised. All manner of people appear to be under considerable pressure to supply the prison. This needs to be cracked down upon."

Holme House POA branch chairman Andy Baxter said some staff had been sent off duty after being affected by Spice more than three times, which was aggravating the effects of a reduced number of officers at the jail.

He said: "This ongoing issue is the unknown effects on the long term health of staff and the short term protections that can be brought in to protect staff and other prisoners.

"Prison Officers are witnessing first-hand the long term effects these drugs are having on people in their care, it is clear to us that long term users are suffering reductions in cognitive ability and potential long term psychosis and potential brain damage."

Holme House POA has demanded an investigation into Spice and its long-term effects on staff and requested external assistance from the health and safety executive regarding the ongoing poisoning of staff in their workplace.

Earlier this month, an inquest was held into the death of Christopher Hope, of Crook - who was found hanged in a cell at the jail, having taken Spice.

In April, the prison’s Independent Monitoring Board stated in its annual report: “Due to overall pressure of numbers in the prison an increasing number of prisoners who have no desire to give up drugs are being housed on the wing. This is having a detrimental effect on the wings original function, ie to encourage prisoners to come off drugs.”

It is understood some former prisoners are deliberately getting themselves jailed so they can smuggle drugs inside in body orifices to pay off debts.

Peter Clarke, chief inspector of prisons in England and Wales, stated in his annual report last week that attempts at reforming inmates would be in vain unless violence and drugs behind bars were addressed, while the "seeming inability" to keep drugs out has been a major factor in declining safety standards.

Justice minister Philip Lee said the Government recognised "deficiencies" in the system, but it had been unprepared for the impact of widespread drug use, including synthetic cannabis substitute Spice.

He said: "It was not anticipated by any previous government and this is undeniably causing difficulties both in terms of the behaviour and indeed the corruption of the prisoners and some staff because of the trade in the substances."

The Government said it was spending £100m a year to boost prison officer numbers.

A Prison Service spokesman said: “We are determined to stem the flow of drugs into our prisons, and are taking unprecedented action to tackle these issues.

“This includes an innovative new drug testing programme, over 300 dogs to detect psychoactive substances, and making it a criminal offence to possess psychoactive substances in prison.

“We have also set up a specialist team of prison and police officers to tackle the threat of drones, and to bring to justice those bringing contraband in to our prisons.”