Five teenage schoolchildren landed in the hospital in south London after using vapes that contained the drug Spice. This latest incident comes as the United Kingdom — as well as many countries around the world — are trying to curb child use of vapes.
This newest incident occurred in Eltham, southeast London. Elsewhere in the United Kingdom, such as Merton and Wales, officials have revealed separate cases of minors using Spice in vapes and becoming sick.
One Teen Put in Coma Using Vape
According to reporting by The Mirror, five teens were put in the hospital after using Spice in a rechargeable vape pen. This vape pen contained a blue liquid labeled “Vaporesso.”
One of the teens was put into an induced coma by doctors after arriving at the hospital. All five teenagers were aged between 14 to 16. Their symptoms included vomiting, confusion, and a reduced level of consciousness.
Teens Recovering from Laced Vape
A recent update of this case reveals that all five teens are thought to have recovered from using a Spice laced vape. However, the specifics of their conditions — and why one was put into an induced coma — have not been revealed.
Spice users can have various symptoms, including vomiting and confusion. However, some users can experience temporary paralysis. Some cases of Spice use have even been linked to psychosis, paranoia, and other mental health conditions.
Uptick in “Zombie Drug” Spice Use
This newest incident in south London is just the latest in an uptick in teenage use of Spice. Spice, coined a “zombie drug,” can leave users in a “zombie-like” state. According to this recent report, the teenagers who landed in the hospital indeed had a low level of consciousness.
Often, the effects of Spice are said to be similar to cannabis — but much stronger. Because users can be left in a catatonic state, many officials in the UK are sounding the alarm as they see more teenagers use it.
United Kingdom Vape Cases
Just last month, The Mirror also reported that two minors became sick after using a Spice-laced vape. This vape was labeled Lemonade Vape Cookies. The incident occurred in Merton.
According to Welsh public health officials, many teens are consuming Spice-laced content in their vapes, as they’re unaware of what they’re putting in their bodies. Often, they simply think they’re using cannabis oils or other liquids.
Increase In Spice-Laced Vapes
According to The Welsh Emerging Drugs and Identification of Novel Substances’ (WEDINOS) newest study, a third of 196 liquid samples found in vapes contained the same class of chemicals that Spice is found in.
As many teenagers do not know that they’re using Spice in their vape, officials believe they are unknowingly putting themselves in danger. “We are concerned that people may not be getting what they think they are getting, when they buy drugs online,” Professor Rick Lines explained.
Schools In The UK Fight Back
Schools around the United Kingdom are trying to fight against the use of unregulated vapes after various schoolchildren have been found unwell after vape use. In Teesside, many reports of Spice-laced vapes and subsequent illnesses went around last year.
In Middlesbrough, reportedly dozens of vapes were confiscated by school officials. Many of these vapes were then sent off for testing to see if they were laced with Spice.
UK Government Bans Disposable Vapes
As incidents of laced vape use involving minors have increased, the United Kingdom has already announced plans to ban the sale of disposable vapes. However, this new legislation does not impact rechargeable vapes.
This entire legislation reveals the government’s intention to try to keep teenagers and children from buying tobacco products. The UK government is also looking to stop vapes from being marketed to children.
United States Schools Also Battle Vape Use
The UK school system isn’t the only one cracking down on vape use in schools. Many schools throughout the United States are trying to fight back against student use of vapes and e-cigarettes, especially amid worries over Spice-laced vapes.
According to the FDA, one in four students use e-cigarettes every day in the United States. Many experts believe minors likely don’t realize how bad vaping and e-cigs are for them.
US Schools Use Surveillance To Stop Vaping
NewsNation revealed that many schools around the country have invested in pricy surveillance technology to try to stop kids from vaping while in class.
Often, teachers and school officials don’t realize their students are vaping. So, it has become difficult for them to curb the practice. With these surveillance systems in place, officials are hoping to better handle the sometimes widespread use of vaping in school.
Long-term Vape Use Can Cause Serious Issues
Minors using vapes or e-cigs daily can often cause extreme health issues down the road, even if they’re only using tobacco products in their vape.
NewsNation reported that a 22-year-old man had to receive a double lung transplant after vaping extensively in his childhood. According to this man, he wasn’t aware that vaping was bad. Often, children and teenagers think vaping is better than smoking regular cigarettes, which isn’t the case.
Laced Vapes Increase Overdose Risks
While long-term vape or e-cigarette use can cause ample health issues down the road, the use of laced vapes can cause immediate issues — and even overdoses. Professor Lines explained that fatal overdoses are on the rise, as a result of laced vapes.
“The risk of fatal overdoses is high from some of the samples we receive, especially when substances are used by those who don’t realise the risks they pose or when they are using them in combination with other substances,” he said.
