A teenager who began vaping at 14 to cope with grief has revealed he was unknowingly addicted to the dangerous synthetic drug known as Spice, a crisis now sweeping UK schools.
The Unseen Danger in School Vapes
Oscar*, now 16, initially turned to what he believed were cannabis oil vapes after his aunt died two years ago. He saw friends using them and wanted to feel the same 'happy and giggly' effect to block out his dark thoughts. "I didn't want to be in the world without her – but I also didn't want to die," he told Metro.
What Oscar and his peers did not realise was that the vapes contained Spice, a powerful and unpredictable synthetic cannabinoid. Considerably cheaper to produce than natural THC, Spice mimics cannabis but can trigger severe side effects including hallucinations, depression, cardiac issues, and suicidal thoughts. It is a Class B drug and has been linked to half of all non-natural deaths in UK prisons.
A Shocking National Epidemic
Alarmingly, Oscar's story is not unique. Research from the University of Bath analysed nearly 2,000 e-cigarettes and e-liquids confiscated from 114 schools across England. They discovered that only 1% contained THC, while 13% contained Spice. This figure spiked dramatically to 25% in London and Lancashire.
Professor Chris Pudney, who led the research, warned of the dire consequences. "We know children can have cardiac arrests when they smoke it, and I believe some have come quite close to death," he said. Headteachers have reported pupils collapsing in school halls and requiring long stays in intensive care.
Oscar described the terrifying effects of the drug. "When I unknowingly tried it, the effects were like I was living in VR... It felt literally like I wasn't really here," he recalled. The high was short-lived, lasting around half an hour, which fuelled a cycle of frequent use and rapid addiction.
Social Media Markets and Gruelling Withdrawal
The University of Bath's report uncovered a 'widespread and overt market' for Spice-laced vapes on social media. Over three months, accounts selling 'THC' on TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram were tracked. A staggering 68% of THC-labelled products on TikTok contained Spice, as did 12% on Facebook.
Jon Findlay, National Harm Reduction Lead for the charity Waythrough, explained the addiction cycle is hard to break due to brutal withdrawal symptoms. "Severe anxiety, insomnia, nausea, sweating, and intense cravings" often drive users back to the drug. Oscar confirmed this, saying when he tried to quit he felt 'terrible' for a week, leading to a two-year cycle of relapse.
He only broke free with support from Waythrough's rehabilitation services at age 16. The charity, alongside Barnsley Recovery Steps and Barnsley Council, is now campaigning to educate young people on the dangers of adulterated vapes.
Experts advise young people to never share vapes and to only purchase legitimate products from regulated high street shops. Oscar also stresses the need for better drug education in schools from Year 7, as younger pupils are often influenced by older peers without any factual knowledge.
The government launched a new campaign last month warning of adulterated THC vape dangers, as drug poisonings hit record levels. A £310 million investment into drug treatment services has been pledged. While the Online Safety Act mandates social media platforms to tackle the sale of illegal substances, Jon Findlay admits policing the internet remains 'almost impossible'.
The focus, he says, must be on balancing the equation by "giving honest and factual advice to young people online, so they are armed with all the facts to keep them as safe as possible."
