Schools that believe they have problems with spice-spiked vapes are being urged to come forward for testing, after an investigation into the scale of the problem was carried out.
The Department for Education is also being urged to elevate the issue to a national harm reduction priority after research found that one in six vapes confiscated in schools across the country contained spice.
Professor Chris Pudney, from the University of Bath, tested 596 vapes confiscated from schools in England and found 16.6 per cent had spice in them - a synthetic drug that has a range of dangerous side effects including cardiac arrest.
“Currently, this issue is being addressed regionally, but I urge the government to elevate it to a national harm reduction priority,” Professor Pudney said.
“I call on the Home Office and the Department for Education to highlight this problem and to provide police forces and schools with comprehensive harm reduction guidance and support.”
Three-quarters of tested schools had spice vapes
In total, 38 schools from across London, the West Midlands, Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire took part in the research.
Results from a device that instantly detects synthetic drugs found spice was present in vapes from 74 per cent of these schools.
The device also revealed that 1.17 per cent of the vapes tested contained THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis.
Professor Pudney said: “We know children can have cardiac arrests when they smoke spice, and I believe some have come quite close to death.
“Headteachers are telling me pupils are collapsing in the halls and ending up with long stays in intensive care.”
He warned parents that his findings were not “a niche, one-off occurrence that happens in a school far away from you”, but something common.
Professor Pudney is now urging people to talk with children about the risks from spice and vaping, as well as the government to prioritise the issue on a national level.
Schools that believe they have problems with spice-spiked vapes should come forward for testing, he said.
Children ‘collapsing’ in the playground, warns head
Headteacher Ben Davis, of St Ambrose Barlow RC High School in Salford, invited Professor Pudney to test a batch of confiscated vapes at the school in July.
He said his school had incidents of young people under the influence of spice, with two children collapsing, including one in the playground.
“We’ve been fortunate so far, but I believe it’s only a matter of time before serious injuries or fatalities occur,” Mr Davis said.
“My message to families is, don’t assume your child is not involved. There’s a high chance they are, or they know someone who is.
“Please talk to them about it. Be open, non-judgmental, and accepting. As soon as you judge or blame, barriers will go up, and you won’t reach your child. This conversation is crucial for their safety.”
‘Risks associated with unregulated vapes not worth it’
One of Professor Pudney’s spice detectors has been deployed to Devon and Cornwall Police for testing within the force area.
Chief Inspector Sarah Johns said the device would help police ascertain the scale of the issue there.
Policing teams have visited all secondary schools in the Devon and Cornwall area to educate students on the health issues of using illegal vapes containing THC or spice.
“Our clear message to all young people is that the risks associated with unregulated vapes are not worth it,” Chief Inspector Johns said.
Police have issued safety warnings relating to vapes in areas including Cornwall, Devon, Kent, Lincolnshire, Lancashire, London, Middlesbrough, Somerset and the West Midlands.
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