Vapes, Synthetic Cannabinoids and Teenagers: The Hidden Crisis
How synthetic drugs are being sold hidden inside disposable vapes, the extreme health risks, and how to spot if your child is affected.
The Vaping Crisis Among Young People
The UK is experiencing a rapid increase in youth vaping. Disposable vapes — often brightly coloured and flavoured to appeal to children — have become a mainstream product in school toilets and playgrounds. The NHS estimates that around 20% of children aged 11–15 have tried vaping, with around 7% using vapes regularly — a figure that has quadrupled since 2018.
What the Data Shows (NHS/ASH, 2024)
- 1 in 5 children aged 11–15 have tried vaping
- 7% of children aged 11–15 currently vape (up from 1.9% in 2018)
- Most young vapers use disposable vapes with nicotine — often containing as much nicotine as 50 cigarettes per device
- Nicotine dependence can develop rapidly in adolescents whose brains are still developing
Health Risks
While the long-term effects of vaping are still being studied, current evidence indicates:
- Nicotine addiction — particularly harmful in adolescent brain development, affecting attention, learning, and impulse control
- Respiratory symptoms — increased coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath
- Popcorn lung — a rare but serious condition linked to some vape chemicals (diacetyl)
- Gateway behaviour — evidence suggests regular vapers are more likely to progress to cigarette smoking
Synthetic Cannabinoids ("Spice")
Synthetic cannabinoids — often called Spice, Mamba, or Black Mamba — are man-made chemicals sprayed onto plant material that mimic the effects of cannabis, but are far more potent and unpredictable. They have been Class B drugs in the UK since 2009.
Spice is a significant safeguarding concern because:
- It is often sold cheaply and is accessible in some areas
- Effects are highly unpredictable — seizures, psychosis, cardiac arrest, and coma have been recorded
- Young people experiencing homelessness or in the care system are disproportionately affected
- It is sometimes smoked mixed with tobacco or inside papers to disguise its use
Warning Signs
- Smell of sweet or unusual scents on breath or clothing
- Finding vaping devices, especially disposables
- Disorientation, slurred speech, or unusual drowsiness
- Rapid heartbeat, pallor, or vomiting after suspected use (Spice)
- Secrecy around friend groups and whereabouts
What to Do
Approach the conversation with curiosity rather than accusation. Young people are far more likely to engage honestly if they do not feel they will be immediately punished. If you are concerned about serious Spice use, contact your GP or call FRANK (0300 123 6600) for confidential advice.
Sources: NHS Digital, Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use Among Young People in England 2023 (2024); Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), Use of E-Cigarettes Among Young People in Great Britain 2024; Office for Health Inequalities and Disparities (OHID), Synthetic Cannabinoids: Toxicological Overview (2023); Public Health England, E-cigarettes: an evidence update (2018). Last reviewed: April 2026.