Vaping body raises alarm over increase in illegal ‘spice vapes’

The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) has clarified that the regulated nicotine vape industry is in no way connected with the trend of using open vape devices as a delivery mechanism for illegal drugs, popularly known as spice vapes.

Nicotine vaping was created as a reduced risk product to help adult smokers transition from cigarettes and it has played a significant role in seeing smoking rates drop to record lows.

UKVIA stated that it has emerged that some people are misusing “open” vape devices – where e-liquid can be added by the consumer – to deliver synthetic cannabinoids such as Spice and the psychoactive chemical THC which is found in cannabis.

UKVIA Director General John Dunne warns, “Consumers can feel confident that when they buy regulated products from any reputable vape supplier, that they will be getting nicotine vapes which are designed to help them transition from cigarettes.

“I am worried, however, that there are vape devices available from unofficial sources which may contain illegal drugs and that those who buy them may have no idea what is contained in these products.”

According to Office for Health Improvement & Disparities (OHID) statistics, of the 12,418 young people under 18 in contact with alcohol and drug services between April 2022 and March 2023, cannabis was the most common substance (87 per cent) for which young people sought treatment. While 10,837 young people reported having a problem with cannabis only 1,737 said they had a problem with nicotine.

The dangers of youth access to spice vapes containing THC was recently highlighted by the BBC who spoke to a schoolboy who said he became hooked on spice after buying devices from a dealer he found on social media and met at a local train station.

John added, “There have already been scare stories in the media with headlines such as ‘Vapes confiscated in schools contain the zombie drug spice’ and this causes people to wrongly believe that the nicotine vape industry is responsible for this new trend.

“We need the government to step on now with a nationwide education campaign in traditional and social media to highlight the dangers of obtaining vape devices from unofficial sources and explaining the differences between legal and illegal vape products.

“Unless a clear distinction is made between the regulated vape market supplying adult smokers with products which are 95 per cent less harmful than cigarettes and the unofficial supply of illegal products, then people will become wary of all vapes with the potential to drive smoking rates back up again.”

NHS informs, “Synthetic cannabinoids are lab-made drugs. Spice is a nickname for a substance containing one or more synthetic cannabinoids. Synthetic cannabinoids were originally designed to mimic the effects of cannabis. However, they are more harmful and unpredictable than cannabis. Due to their potency, there’s no safe way to take synthetic cannabinoids.”

It says the risks of taking synthetic cannabinoids include inability to move, dizziness, breathing difficulties, chest pain, heart palpitations, seizures, extreme anxiety, paranoia and suicidal thoughts.

“The UKVIA is committed to upholding the highest standards in the vape sector which is why it backs the introduction of a national vape licensing scheme which would provide upwards of £50m annual funding to clamp down on illegal vape sales, backed up with fines of £10,000 upon conviction to make rogue retailers think twice before flouting the law,” stated the body.