One in six e-cigarettes seized in English schools contained ‘zombie drug’
Research has revealed that one in six e-cigarettes seized from English schools have been laced with the highly addictive ‘zombie drug’.
Analysis of 38 schools found that the synthetic street drug, classified as class B along with ketamine and GHB, was in nearly 100 devices. The researchers said they believed the substance was being put into vapes marketed as containing cannabis oil.
A study by the University of Bath found that 596 e-cigarettes seized from schools in London, the West Midlands, Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire contained herbal odours in at least one e-cigarette in 28 schools.
The drug, which can cause heart attacks, seizures and psychotic episodes, was found in 16.6% of vapes tested, while about one in 100 contained THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis. One vape tested contained trace amounts of heroin.
Chris Pudney, a professor of applied biochemistry at the University of Bath who developed a portable device that directly detects synthetic drugs and is used to test vapes, said he was surprised at how much vapes contain spice.
“What shocked me was that the percentages were so high – almost unbelievable. I expected a number that would be about 10 times lower. The vapes we tested were taken from students during a normal school day, not because teachers (thought) there were drugs in them, but simply because vapes are not allowed in schools.”
The tests also found that herbs were mainly added to refillable vapes rather than disposable vapes.
The findings follow research published in June that showed a sharp increase in vaping among teens.
Pudney said: “This isn’t just a niche, one-off incident that’s happening at a school far away from you; this is something that’s happening all over the place. Teens are thinking they’re buying vapes or vape liquid that contains THC or nicotine, when in fact it’s laced with herbs.
“We know that children can go into cardiac arrest from smoking spice, and I believe some have nearly died from it. School principals tell me that students collapse in the hallways and end up in intensive care for long periods of time.”
Ben Davis, headmaster of St Ambrose Barlow RC High School in Salford, who invited Pudney to test a batch of seized e-cigarettes at the school in July, said he had seen children under the influence of spice and that two children at his school had fainted as a result, causing concern among staff, children and their families.
He added: “What do we do if it happens again and we’re not aware of it? What if it happens in a toilet cubicle and they’re alone? It would only happen if they didn’t show up at school, were absent and we went looking for them, and possibly found them too late. So far we’ve been lucky, but I think it’s only a matter of time before there are serious injuries or deaths.
“My message to families is: don’t assume your child isn’t involved. There’s a good 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 be built and you won’t reach your child. This conversation is crucial for their safety.”
Ch Insp Sarah Johns, from Devon and Cornwall Police, one of the forces using Pudney’s testing device, said: “Our clear message to all young people is that the risks associated with unregulated vapes are not worth it. Young people who are given or offered these liquids will never know for sure what is in them and … if it is spice, then that could lead to serious harm.”
A government spokesperson said: “We prohibit the use of branded vape products and advertising that appeal to children. We also restrict packaging, flavours and presentation.
“In addition, the government provides funding to Trading Standards and Border Force to tackle illegal sellers and test products.”