Vape pens containing a synthetic cannabinoid often known as Spice have led to people being
taken to hospital in London recently. In one incident, five people became seriously ill after vaping from a “Vaporesso” branded pen containing blue liquid in a silver and black cartridge. In a separate incident, people became ill after using a vape labelled “Lemonade Vape Cookies” (which may have been sold as THC).
Both vapes contained Spice, which can cause serious side effects like breathing problems, heart attacks and seizures. Other symptoms include feeling dizzy, vomiting, heart racing, sweating, anxiety and paranoid.
If you’re buying either illegal vapes or ones you think have Cannabis/ THC in them, follow our steps below to stay safe.
If possible, avoid using the vapes we have identified above – the only way to avoid all the
risks is to not take drugs which are not prescribed for you. However, if you do choose to take them, remember:
- Go low and slow – Be extra cautious about
where you get your vapes from, and about
the drugs you are taking. Start with a little bit,
wait an hour and see how you feel. - Do not use alone; make sure that someone
you trust is with you and knows what you’re
doing in case you need help. - If doing it with others, it’s best if only one
person vapes first instead of you all doing it
at once. - Don’t mix drugs: Using more than one drug
increases your risks of overdose, including
mixing with alcohol. - Look after your friends: look out for anyone
who seems dizzy or confused, is sweating,
trembling, vomiting or is very anxious,
aggressive, or paranoid. If one of your
mates is struggling to breathe or passes out,
call 999. - Be prepared to call immediately for an
ambulance if someone overdoses or
become ill. - Test your drugs using the testing service
available at www.wedinos.org