Vapes containing spice (synthetic cannabinoids)

Please see message below from Ealing Public Health/Department of Health and Social Care.

The Met Police have informed of us of an incident involving five young people (aged 14-16 years) in Greenwich on 29 January 2024 who were hospitalised with relatively serious health harms having used vapes.

The vape was a blue and purple coloured rechargeable metal vape device labelled ‘Vaporesso’, which held blue liquid residues within a clear plastic chamber of a silver and black cartridge.

We also received a report from the Met of an incident earlier in January of vapes containing cannabis involving 2 young people in Merton who also experienced health harms. The vape was labelled ‘Lemonade Vape Cookies’, which may have been sold as THC, now confirmed to contained spice

Toxicology results have confirmed these vapes contained spice (or synthetic cannabinoids).

At present we do not know how wide the issue of vapes containing illegal drugs is, whether the young people involved planned to buy illegal drugs, or how these vapes were purchased.

Drugs, alcohol and tobacco education

Contact the Ealing health improvement team if you require any advice or support with drugs, alcohol and tobacco education in schools