School kids collapse after vaping liquid they thought was ‘natural cannabis’ but contained deadly Spice drug
School kids have collapsed after vaping a liquid they thought was natural cannabis but contained the deadly drug Spice.
At least nine young people required medical attention in Greater Manchester after they unknowingly vaped the synthetic drug.
Six of the nine patients collapsed and fell ill but no one has suffered long-term health effects.
Two incidents in Oldham led to five school children collapsing and being rushed to hospital.
Medics have warned people to stay away from products sold as “THC vape” as vaping Spice can be fatal.
The Greater Manchester Drug Alerts Panel confirmed the liquids - sold as both a 10ml bottle and a ready-filled cartridge - contained the same chemicals found in Spice.
Panel member Dr Prun Bijral described the incidents which happened between February and June as “very worrying”.
He said: “Fortunately it does not seem likely they will suffer any long-term harm, but we don’t want to see anyone else affected, particularly as we approach the school summer holidays.
“Young people who buy this product thinking it will have an effect similar to natural cannabis are not only being ripped off, they are also putting themselves and their friends in real danger.”
Spice, a former legal high, was outlawed in 2016.
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An investigation by The Sun Online this year found drug dealers on Facebook and Instagram were openly selling Spice vapes.
Panel coordinator Michael Linnel said: "The risk of vaping spice is far more dangerous than from a natural cannabis product.
"It is difficult for even experienced Spice users to judge dosage.
"Severe poisoning is far more common with synthetic cannabinoids than with cannabis, and in some cases the poisoning may even be fatal."
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