Devon and Cornwall Police given portable device which can detect drugs in vapes
It comes research by the University of Bath warns that children are being seriously harmed by drug laced vapes
Last updated 25th Jul 2024
Devon and Cornwall Police and other emergency services nationwide are being given a portable device, which can instantly detect the presence of drugs in vapes.
It was designed and built at the University of Bath, who used it to test hundreds of vapes which were confiscated from 38 schools across England.
Their investigation found that one in six contained the drug spice. Moreover, spice was found in vapes taken from 74 per cent of the schools.
Professor Chris Pudney is now warning that a child may die if the problem is not addressed and is urging parents to discuss the dangers of vapes with their children.
He said: "Teenagers think they are purchasing vapes or vape fluid containing THC or nicotine when, in fact, they are laced with spice.
"We know children can have cardiac arrests when they smoke spice, and I believe some have come quite close to death.
"Headteachers are telling me pupils are collapsing in the halls and ending up with long stays in intensive care.
“This is not just a niche, one-off occurrence that happens in a school far away from you; this is something common.
"As we go into the school holidays if we can have an open dialogue and talk with children about the risks they face, then they've got a chance of making a different choice.”
Spice, which can be made in a lab, has become known as the zombie drug because its incredibly powerful effect on people.
Also raising the alarm is Ben Davis, Headteacher at St Ambrose Barlow RC High School in Salford where some of the vapes were confiscated from.
He said: "We’ve had specific instances of young people under the influence of spice. I recall one young man describing how his hands felt like cartoon hands. He couldn’t control them and they felt like they didn’t belong to him. We’ve also witnessed two children collapsing.
“Dealing with the aftermath is challenging, especially when you have to explain to the child’s family that something potentially life-threatening happened while they were in our care. It’s equally distressing for their friends who witnessed the collapse and for the staff involved—it’s their worst fear realised.”
The incidents at St Ambrose Barlow RC occurred with many people around, but a serious concern is what would happen if a child collapsed whilst alone.
"We’ve been fortunate so far, but I believe it’s only a matter of time before serious injuries or fatalities occur," Mr Davis said.
“My message to families is, don’t assume your child is not involved. There’s a high 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 go up, and you won’t reach your child.
"This conversation is crucial for their safety."
Chief Inspector Sarah Johns, Devon and Cornwall Police Prevention Command said: “We have been aware of Professor Pudney’s work in quickly and accurately testing for the presence of controlled substances in vapes such as the synthetic cannabinoid spice and are pleased to be one of the forces which has received one of his devices for ongoing testing in our area.
"It will help us to ascertain the scale of this issue in Devon and Cornwall so that we can target resources most effectively."
Detective Sergeant Laura Bell from Greater Manchester Police said: "It’s important that we take a proactive approach to keep young people safe; we know one of the most effective ways of doing this is through education. It is vital that we engage with the young people and schools in our communities to do this.
“Students are educated about the risks of drug use and illegal vapes, the potential impact on their health and the wider long-term consequences it can have on their futures.
“We encourage parents and guardians to discourage their children from getting involved in any illegal activities and continue to remind them of the negative consequences that using drugs can have."
Areas where schools or police have issued safety warnings include but are not limited to: Cornwall, Devon, Kent, Lincolnshire, Lancashire, London, Middlesborough, Somerset and the West Midlands.
Professor Pudney is now calling on the government to make combating the issue a national priority.
He said: "I call on the Home Office and the Department for Education to highlight this problem and to provide police forces and schools with comprehensive harm reduction guidance and support."