1 in 6 vapes confiscated from schools across England were found to contain Spice, according to Professor Chris Pudney at the University of Bath.
I have been working closely with Professor Pudney to understand exactly how children are accessing this harmful drug and what its effects are. The findings are deeply worrying.
After securing £1.3m in funding in 2021, researchers at the University of Bath developed the world’s first portable device that instantly detects synthetic drugs. It is the first gadget to give on-the-spot readings for Spice. Professor Chris Pudney used the device to carry out tests in 38 schools across London, the West Midlands, Greater Manchester, South Yorkshire and Cleveland, examining almost 600 confiscated vapes.
Shockingly, these tests found that 1 in 6 (16.6%) of the vapes contained Spice. This is in stark contrast to the vapes found to have THC in – of which there were 1 in 100 (1.17%). Spice was discovered in nearly 75% of the schools tested, and experts at the University of Bath believe these figures are likely to be representative across the country.
So why exactly is this so troubling? Spice is a synthetic substance typically found in prisons. It is highly addictive and can cause an array of severely dangerous side effects, from cardiac arrest to collapse. In fact, Bath researchers suspect the reports of children collapsing suddenly at school are likely to be a result of inhaling Spice vapes.
It’s not simply the risk of addiction or the harm to physical health that makes the prevalence of Spice in vapes so alarming. What is most disturbing is that, in many of these cases, children are unknowingly smoking vapes that have been spiked with Spice, under the impression that they have purchased a cannabis vape with THC in.
THC vapes are typically illegal imports from the USA and are expensive, costing around £20. Spice, although incredibly dangerous, is much cheaper and more abundant, costing roughly £2. As such, it is often vulnerable children who understandably gravitate towards the more affordable prices, believing that they are filled with THC, and end up purchasing a vape spiked with Spice.
It’s clear that something has to be done – and fast – to protect vulnerable children from this dangerous drug. We cannot allow a generation of young people to be put at risk of lifelong addiction and serious health complications. That’s why I have fought to secure an adjournment debate with the Home Office to push the government on tackling this pressing issue. After writing to the Education Secretary and raising the phenomenon to the Leader of the House in the Chamber, I was disappointed that the government seemed not to be grasping the severity of the issue. While they stated they intended to tackle it in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, the Bill simply does not go far enough to address the many concerns associated with children unwittingly smoking Spice-spiked vapes.
Firstly, we need to raise greater awareness of the issue itself. It’s vital that teachers, parents, carers and children are informed about the risks associated with Spice and young people are mindful when purchasing THC vapes of the potential for them to be laced with Spice.
What’s more, if the government are set on addressing the issue in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, they must consider tightening its regulations. For example, the Bill primarily focuses on prohibiting disposable vapes; however, vapes containing Spice are more likely to be refillable. The Bill could risk shifting demand towards refillable vapes, which may be more easily manipulated by those selling Spice-spiked vapes. In its current form, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill also overlooks the important role online platforms and social media play in the distribution of Spice which could enable operators to continue selling their products to young people with minimal intervention or regulatory oversight.
With children across the country risking considerable harm as a result of these pernicious vapes, it’s absolutely critical that we introduce better protections imminently. No child should be put at such a distressing level of risk, and especially not without their knowledge. It’s high time the government joined my campaign to tackle Spice-spiked vapes and prevent the escalating threat to young lives.
As 1 in 6 vapes in schools contain dangerous prison drug, it’s high time the government tackle the growing trend of children unknowingly smoking Spice
