Jude Deaman and Oli Ziegler, Drug and Alcohol Workers with DHI’s Connect Young Persons (YP) service, were interviewed on ITV Meridian following research revealing that up to one in four vapes confiscated in England’s secondary schools contain synthetic drug spice.
DHI’s Connect YP service, along with its online platform The Wrap, supports young people dealing with substance issues by offering clear, accessible guidance.
“It’s very difficult to know what’s really in a vape,” said Jude. “We’ve seen cases where young people think they’ve bought cannabis vapes, which turn out to be spice. There’s a lot of misinformation out there. That’s why it’s so important that services like ours are here to educate young people.”
The report highlighted the outreach work of Connect YP, with support workers like Oli and Jude regularly engaging with schools and speaking directly to young people in their communities about the risks associated with illegal vapes.
Oli explained the dangers of vapes laced with synthetic drugs such as spice. “Sometimes it results in things like fitting, seizures, loss of consciousness. It’s not uncommon for ambulance call-outs and hospitalisations,” he said.
Concerns are growing over the rise of contaminated vapes. Research from the University of Bath found that 25% of vapes confiscated in secondary schools contained spice, and it was present in 13% of overall samples.
Professor Chris Pudney, a researcher at the University of Bath, also appeared in the report: “I don’t think it’s as simple as people going out and seeking drugs,” he said. “It can be much more complex than that – especially when you’re talking about children as young as 12. They don’t really know what they’re doing or what they’re choosing to consume, and it can cause a great deal of harm.”
The report also highlighted how vapes marketed as containing cannabis oil can be contaminated with spice.
“I think a lot of the young people we come across think, ‘Oh, that could never happen to me.’ I don’t think they realise how prevalent it is,” Jude added. “Our ultimate aim as drug and alcohol workers is to inform young people and raise awareness of the risks.”
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