Monkey Dust: Dissecting the Media Narrative and the Reality in Stoke-on-Trent

In recent years, monkey dust has been portrayed in the UK media as a terrifying new drug sweeping through communities, turning people into “zombies” and fueling crime. Nowhere has this narrative been more entrenched than in Stoke-on-Trent, where local reporting has shaped public perception, policy debates, and—crucially—the lived experiences of those struggling with addiction.

But how much of this media portrayal reflects reality? A recent study by Atkinson & Sumnall (2020) provides a much-needed analysis of how monkey dust has been framed, exposing exaggerations, misinformation, and the failure to connect substance use to wider mental health and social issues. Their findings deserve wider discussion and critical engagement, particularly in the context of Stoke-on-Trent, where this so-called epidemic has been most heavily reported.

1. The Prevalence of Monkey Dust in Stoke-on-Trent: Media Hype vs. Reality

The paper highlights that Stoke-on-Trent became ground zero for the “monkey dust” drug scare, with the local newspaper, The Sentinel, being the primary driver of coverage. The majority of media reports (88%) were from local sources, reinforcing the idea that monkey dust was a uniquely Stoke problem. But when we dig deeper, this narrative raises more questions than answers:

• While police reported 950+ callouts related to monkey dust, these figures lack forensic confirmation, meaning many incidents may not have involved the drug at all.

• Despite media claims that monkey dust use was “spreading” to other areas, actual confirmed cases remained overwhelmingly local.

• Reports exaggerated the drug’s dangers, particularly its supposed link to extreme violence, psychosis, and superhuman strength, drawing parallels to previous moral panics around substances like Spice and crack cocaine.

• National coverage surged in 2018, after dramatic headlines about users jumping from buildings and becoming uncontrollable, reinforcing sensationalist narratives.

This drug scare narrative has fueled calls for tougher criminal penalties and reclassification of the drug from Class B to Class A, rather than a balanced approach rooted in evidence-based public health interventions.

2. The Mental Health and Substance Use Perspective: A Missed Opportunity for Real Reform

Perhaps more concerning than the exaggeration of monkey dust’s prevalence is the failure to address its intersection with mental health, poverty, and social inequality.

• Media reports overwhelmingly framed addiction in criminal terms, portraying users as violent, unpredictable threats rather than vulnerable individuals with complex needs.

• While psychosis, paranoia, and aggression were commonly cited as effects of the drug, there was little recognition of pre-existing mental health issues—instead, the drug was blamed for causing these conditions, reinforcing stigma rather than understanding.

• Homelessness and deprivation were frequently mentioned, but again, the focus was on public nuisance and criminality, rather than why people in Stoke are turning to synthetic cathinones in the first place.

Atkinson & Sumnall’s study calls this out directly:

“Drug scares are not only an outcome of fears surrounding the use of drugs as a symbol of immorality but represent broader fear and anxiety over the behaviour of certain populations.”

This is a critical point. Monkey dust is not just about drug use—it is about poverty, marginalisation, and a failing system that leaves people with few alternatives. Yet, instead of discussing the chronic underfunding of mental health services, the breakdown of social support systems, or the impact of austerity on addiction treatment, the conversation is dominated by police crackdowns and crime statistics.

Where Do We Go From Here?

1. Challenge Misinformation

• The media’s sensationalist drug reporting needs to be called out. Journalists, policymakers, and public health professionals must work together to ensure accurate, balanced discussions on drug trends.

• The demonisation of users through language like “zombies” and “cannibals” only fuels stigma and prevents people from seeking help.

2. Shift the Focus from Criminal Justice to Public Health

• Calls for reclassification of monkey dust to Class A ignore the failures of punitive approaches—decades of evidence show that criminalisation does not reduce drug use, but rather pushes people further from services and into riskier patterns of behaviour.

• Mental health and substance use services must be properly funded to ensure that people struggling with addiction can access treatment without unnecessary barriers.

3. Address the Root Causes

• Stoke-on-Trent’s high levels of deprivation, homelessness, and mental health challenges create the conditions for problematic drug use.

• Austerity measures have gutted addiction services, meaning those most in need are often turned away until they are already in crisis.

Final Thoughts: Time to Change the Narrative

Monkey dust is not a Stoke-on-Trent problem—it is a systemic problem that reflects how we treat the most marginalised people in our society.

The study by Atkinson & Sumnall should serve as a wake-up call. Instead of fueling fear-based responses, we need to reframe the discussion around evidence, compassion, and solutions that actually work.

If we are serious about addressing substance use and mental health issues, we must move beyond simplistic drug scare narratives and toward systemic reform that puts people, not headlines, at the centre of the conversation.

Let’s start that conversation now.

📢 What Do You Think?

Do you agree that media narratives have distorted the reality of monkey dust use? What changes do we need to see in policy and public discourse? Let’s discuss.

#MentalHealth #SubstanceUse #HarmReduction #Addiction #StokeOnTrent #DrugPolicy #SocialJustice