Children collapsing at schools from drug-laced vapes, Met police warns
The Metropolitan Police has warned parents that teenagers are collapsing in school after using vapes spiked with dangerous drugs.
Police officers across London have seized vapes that have been confiscated from pupils and sent them for testing for substances including spice, the highly addictive drug that can leave users in a zombie-like state.
Vapes have also been found to contain THC, a psychoactive drug found in cannabis.
Police believe that some reusable vape pens are being filled with drugs by dealers, who are then selling the devices to young people using Snapchat and other social media apps.
Officers have received reports of pupils becoming unwell after using them, with some young people collapsing in school.
In a letter sent to parents this week in Sutton, south London, police said: “It is important for parents to be aware that unregulated vape pens can cause serious damage to the health of young people.
“Young people thinking of buying these illicit, home-filled devices have no idea what has gone into them, and the potential danger they could cause.”
‘A single dose can kill’
Sgt Sarah Tynan, Sutton schools and youth, warned that in some cases, one dose of spice can be lethal.
She said: “Inhaling spice through a vaping pen is extremely dangerous for young people and can lead to health problems such as breathing difficulties, chest pains, heart palpitations, seizures, extreme anxiety, paranoia, suicidal thoughts, psychosis, vomiting or diarrhoea and acute kidney injury. In some cases, a single dose can kill.”
She has urged parents, guardians or anyone with information about those supplying the vapes to contact police or Crimestoppers.
The warning comes after local authorities in Middlesbrough, Hampshire and Brighton issued warnings in recent months on the potential effects of drugs being inhaled by young people using vapes.
A survey of 4,000 teachers by the NASUWT teachers’ union in October found that 85 per cent believed vaping was a problem on school premises.
More than half of teachers reported that some teachers repeatedly leave lessons to vape, while a third said that some pupils were struggling to concentrate in lessons due to the effects of nicotine.
One teacher told the union that “students [are] vaping THC and being sick, passing out and being high whilst on school premises”.
‘Risks are extremely high’
Last summer, a head teacher in Oldham, Greater Manchester, said that a pupil in Year 8 (ages 12 and 13) collapsed on his way to school after only one inhalation.
Glyn Potts, head teacher of Saint John Henry Newman Catholic College, a state secondary, said the risks of vaping are “extremely high” and urged parents to be vigilant.
“Young people are purchasing something they think has CBD oil in it, or something they think is, quote, ‘good for anxiety’, but the risks are extremely high,” he told The Oldham Times.
“We know that you can purchase repurposed disposable vapes from the Cheetham Hill area that report to contain ‘mental health boosting’ ingredients like lavender but the reality is we don’t know what they contain.”
Last month, Rishi Sunak announced plans to ban disposable vapes, which cost as little as £3, as part of the Government’s efforts to stop children becoming “hooked for life”. It is understood that the ban could come into force as soon as this year or by early next year at the latest.
More expensive refillable cigarettes will be legally available but will have to be placed behind the counter in stores.
Geoff Barton, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “It’s bad enough that vapes are sold to children at all, but alarming to learn that they are being modified by criminals with illegal drugs. We condemn those responsible for this dangerous practice, and express our support for school leaders, teachers and parents faced with yet another problem that places young people at risk.”
A spokesman for Sutton council said: “We would be extremely concerned of any incidents of this sort. The police are right to inform parents, but the police also tell us there have been no incidents in Sutton.
“The rise in young people using vapes continues to concern us and we are working with schools and health partners to ensure that students receive the right information about the risks and dangers associated with using vapes.
“In addition, our trading standards team carry out regular seizures of vapes and fake vapes in Sutton. Last year we seized thousands of illegal vapes, worth over £70,000 across the borough.”
