Five schoolchildren were hospitalised in Eltham, South-East London on January 29 after smoking vapes containing the synthetic drug Spice.
The incident has raised alarms about the increasing use of vapes among young people. The teenagers, aged fourteen to sixteen, reportedly used a rechargeable vape pen labeled Vaporesso, and one of them was placed in an induced coma, according to The Mirror.
Spice, a synthetic drug with effects similar to cannabis but stronger, has been linked to users experiencing a “zombie-like” state, along with side effects such as nausea and mood swings.
In a separate incident in Merton last month, two youngsters fell ill after using a Spice-laced vape labeled Lemonade Vape Cookies, as reported by the same source.
Concerns about the misuse of Spice-laced vapes have been growing, with Welsh health officials warning of the risks. The Welsh Emerging Drugs and Identification of Novel Substances service (WEDINOS) revealed that nearly one-third of the 196 liquid samples submitted in 2023 contained the class of chemicals associated with Spice.
Similar incidents have been reported in Middlesbrough, where unregulated vapes, potentially containing Spice, were confiscated from pupils in schools.
In response to the growing issue, the government has announced plans to ban disposable vapes and implement measures to prevent marketing to children and underage sales. However, these changes are not expected to impact rechargeable vapes.
[Image created via MidJourney]