An exploration into the use of Synthetic Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists (SCRAs) and their impact on homeless populations health and wellbeing

Norton, Anna Cathrine Elizabeth (2025) An exploration into the use of Synthetic Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists (SCRAs) and their impact on homeless populations health and wellbeing. Doctoral thesis (PhD), Manchester Metropolitan University.

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Abstract

Background Since their emergence in the early 2000s, Synthetic Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists (SCRAs) have fast become part of the global drug landscape with its use often associated with homeless populations (Ralphs et al., 2017; Hutton, 2022; EUDA, 2024). Originally designed to mimic the effects of cannabis (Gray et al., 2016; Reuter and Pardo, 2017; Malaca et al., 2021), the current generation of SCRAs has been estimated to be up to 800 times more potent (Abdulrahim and Bowden-Jones, 2016), resulting in more intense effects and subsequent harms. Their rapid rise in use within UK prison and homeless populations has been accompanied by high profile and often stigmatising media coverage and a criminal justice response. Methodology Adopting a qualitative approach composed of semi-structured interviews and ethnographic observations, this thesis aimed to capture the perspectives of people whose voices are often absent from discourse on SCRAs. This included the lived experiences of 15 homeless SCRA users, and 15 frontline practitioners. Adopting a standpoint epistemology that set out to forefront their voices. Results The research findings contribute valuable insights into SCRAs trajectories and have been clustered into four key chapters. These include an in-depth exploration into onset and motivations for use, reported effects on mental health and wellbeing, observable impacts on aggressive and violent behaviour and experiences of withdrawal symptoms, methods of desistance and the management and responses to SCRAs. Conclusions Utilising Zinberg’s (1984) theory of Drug, Set and Setting, the conclusions assert that Set and Setting are significant in shaping homeless populations’ experience of SCRAs. Moreover, it is argued that an overfocus on the harms associated with SCRA’s use has diverted attention away from the poor socioeconomic and structural inequalities and wider cultural and political issues in society. As such, it is concluded that SCRAs are symptomatic of broader societal issues that lead to homelessness, incarceration and poor mental health and not the cause.