Latest news with #PCSOJonAkehurst
The Sun
a day ago
- Health
- The Sun
Urgent warning over vapes laced with deadly ‘zombie drug' – as children rushed to hospital
VAPES laced with the deadly 'zombie drug' spice are turning up in British schools and leaving kids in hospital. Wiltshire cops say tainted vapes flogged on Snapchat are flooding schools, leaving kids suffering seizures and terrifying personality changes. 4 "I'd urge parents to have conversations with your child about the dangers and risks as well as what happens if they do use a vape which is contaminated with something," PCSO Jon Akehurst, said in a statement. "Make it clear that if you do take these things, it has an impact on your life. Spice is a nickname given to synthetic cannabinoids - lab-made drugs that were originally designed to mimic the effects of cannabis. However, it is usually much stronger than cannabis, causing terrifying side effects like seizures, heart attacks, and breathing trouble. Victims also suffer dizziness, vomiting, racing hearts, sweating, panic attacks, and paranoia. streets littered with near-unconscious addicts. Now they're using new gadgets in schools to sniff out the dodgy vapes and keep children safe. It comes as the ban on single-use vapes has come into effect, part of a tough crackdown designed to stop kids from getting hooked and reduce waste. The force is working with Bath University, Swindon Borough Council and Wiltshire Council to test any suspected contaminated vapes to mitigate any further risks to students. Officers are urging parents to talk to their children about the dangers of using contaminated vapes after the discovery. "If you are concerned about your child, there are people that can help and support you," Jon added. "Unfortunately, with spice there can be many different reactions. "We've seen vomiting and behaviour changes, and we've had an incident where there were concerns that a child was having a fit. "The reactions can be very, very broad. Behaviour changes seem to be the biggest concern for schools, with students being fine before lunch, but after lunch they are elevated in aggression, say," A shocking study last year found that one in six vapes confiscated from school children in England was found to be laced with the 'zombie drug' spice. 4 Meanwhile, Public Health Wales reported testing 196 vape e-liquid samples, finding over a third contained synthetic cannabinoids. In March, The Sun joined Greater Manchester Police on an armed raid to expose armed gangs selling kids vapes laced with the deadly drug. Professor Chris Pudney, an expert in biotechnology from the University of Bath, conducted tests using the world's first portable device that instantly detects synthetic drugs. Working with concerned schools and police forces, he tested 596 confiscated vapes and discovered Spice at 28 out of 38 (74 per cent) of schools across London, the West Midlands, Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire. What is Spice? The synthetic cannabinoids collectively known as Spice are made up of a range of amphetamines and other laboratory-created chemicals that vary wildly from batch to batch. Users smoke, drink or eat Spice, often in tea. Before the ban on psychoactive substances in 2016, it was being sold either over the counter or online under a variety of brand names such as Annihilation and GoCaine. It is highly addictive with withdrawal symptoms said to be worse than coming off crack or heroin. Users can suffer vomiting, seizures, terrifying hallucinations and severe psychotic episodes after consuming the drug, according to the NHS. Other side effects can be severe and unpredictable. They include inability to move, dizziness, and breathing difficulties. Chest pain and heart palpitations are common. Extreme anxiety, paranoia, and suicidal thoughts may occur. Psychosis and stomach problems like vomiting or diarrhea can happen. In some cases, acute kidney injury is reported. Spice appears particularly rife in Birmingham and Manchester, where a number of users have been hospitalised after taking the drug. The substance is sometimes dubbed the "zombie drug" because of the effect it can have on users, who are often seen staggering around. An ex-spice addict has described the sensation to Metro, saying: 'You just feel brain dead half the time. They say people look like zombies, and that's how it feels." The substance was declared unfit for human consumption by the very person who invented it. Organic chemist John Huffmann accidentally created it in 2006 when searching for a new way of developing anti-inflammatory medication. Two years later the substance began surfacing on websites, usually advertised as a form of incense or plant fertiliser. The drug has been described as similar to cannabis but others have cited effects more like powerful hallucinogenics such as LSD. An even more dangerous crystal form emerged in 2017, believed to be around 20 times more potent than the "usual" strain. About one in six (16.6 per cent) of the vapes contained Spice, while roughly one in 100 (1.17 per cent) contained THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis. 'Some have come quite close to death' Earlier this year, pupils from Unity City Academy in Middlesbrough were hospitalised after using contaminated vapes. Meanwhile, a teenage girl from Teesside nearly died at school after trying a vape laced with the deadly spice drug. Back in 2019, nine teens collapsed after unknowingly vaping synthetic cannabinoids. And in March, two schoolboys in Dalkeith, Scotland were rushed to hospital after taking just one puff of a suspected spice-laced vape. Dan Griffiths, 40, from South Shields, has seen first-hand the damage spice vapes can cause after his 14-year-old son Ash smoked one earlier this month, and collapsed. 'Ash had no idea what was in it,' Dan revealed. 'After a couple of puffs, he collapsed, and his friends were standing there laughing at his reaction. 'Thankfully, a passing nurse saw it and called an ambulance. 'Since then, he's had six seizures, and we're constantly in and out of the hospital. It's changed his life forever.' 4 Professor Pudney 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."
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
UK children taken to hospital after using vapes laced with Spice
An increase in vapes contaminated with synthetic drug Spice has led to secondary school children being rushed to hospital. The lab-made drug which mimics the effects of cannabis but with much stronger consequences, can cause breathing problems, heart attacks and seizures. Other symptoms include feeling dizzy, vomiting, heart racing, sweating, anxiety, and paranoia. Police have warned of a national increase in vapes being contaminated with spice in secondary schools and in severe cases children have been taken to hospital. It comes after a study in a university-led study last year heard from headteachers who reported children collapsing and ending up in hospital. 'We've seen vomiting and behaviour changes, and we've had an incident where there were concerns that a child was having a fit. The reactions can be very, very broad,' PSCO Jon Akehurst from Wiltshire Police warned. Police warn of an national increase in vapes laced with Spice (Alamy/PA) Working with Bath University, Swindon Borough Council and Wiltshire Council, police are using a new device to test any suspected contaminated vapes to prevent any further harm to students. "I'd urge parents to have conversations with your child about the dangers and risks as well as what happens if they do use a vape which is contaminated with something,' PCSO Akehurst said. "Make it clear that if you do take these things, it has an impact on your life,' he added. Officers are urging parents to talk to their children about the dangers of using contaminated vapes from the health effects to the impact it can have on your life. PCOS Akehurst warned that there can be many different reactions to the lab-made drug. "You may have a substance addiction; you might need it constantly, it's going to cost you money, and you could end up in debt. There are real-life consequences for anyone taking drugs. If you are concerned about your child, there are people that can help and support you,' he said. Cannabis substitute Spice can cause breathing problems, heart attacks and seizures (Creative Commons) The stark warning comes after an investigation by the University of Bath found one in six vapes confiscated from schools contained Spice. The study published in July last year saw vapes confiscated in 38 schools in England, finding more than 16 per cent contained the synthetic form of cannabis. Professor Chris Pudney, from the university's department of life sciences, conducted the tests using the device that instantly detects synthetic drugs. Professor Pudney said: "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.'
The Independent
2 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
UK children taken to hospital after using vapes laced with Spice
An increase in vapes contaminated with synthetic drug Spice has led to secondary school children being rushed to hospital. The lab-made drug which mimics the effects of cannabis but with much stronger consequences, can cause breathing problems, heart attacks and seizures. Other symptoms include feeling dizzy, vomiting, heart racing, sweating, anxiety, and paranoia. Police have warned of a national increase in vapes being contaminated with spice in secondary schools and in severe cases children have been taken to hospital. It comes after a study in a university-led study last year heard from headteachers who reported children collapsing and ending up in hospital. 'We've seen vomiting and behaviour changes, and we've had an incident where there were concerns that a child was having a fit. The reactions can be very, very broad,' PSCO Jon Akehurst from Wiltshire Police warned. Working with Bath University, Swindon Borough Council and Wiltshire Council, police are using a new device to test any suspected contaminated vapes to prevent any further harm to students. "I'd urge parents to have conversations with your child about the dangers and risks as well as what happens if they do use a vape which is contaminated with something,' PCSO Akehurst said. "Make it clear that if you do take these things, it has an impact on your life,' he added. Officers are urging parents to talk to their children about the dangers of using contaminated vapes from the health effects to the impact it can have on your life. PCOS Akehurst warned that there can be many different reactions to the lab-made drug. "You may have a substance addiction; you might need it constantly, it's going to cost you money, and you could end up in debt. There are real-life consequences for anyone taking drugs. If you are concerned about your child, there are people that can help and support you,' he said. The stark warning comes after an investigation by the University of Bath found one in six vapes confiscated from schools contained Spice. The study published in July last year saw vapes confiscated in 38 schools in England, finding more than 16 per cent contained the synthetic form of cannabis. Professor Chris Pudney, from the university's department of life sciences, conducted the tests using the device that instantly detects synthetic drugs. Professor Pudney said: "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.'
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Children taken to hospital after using vapes laced with 'zombie drug' Spice - as parents are urged to watch out for 'contaminated' pens sold on Snapchat
Vapes laced with the 'zombie drug' spice have been found in schools leading to children being taken to hospital - as police issue a stark warning to parents. There has been an increase in contaminated vapes, which are commonly sold on social media platforms such as Snapchat, found at secondary schools across Wiltshire, police have said. Spice is a lab-made drug which mimics the effects of cannabis but with much stronger consequences. It can cause serious side effects like breathing problems, heart attacks and seizures. Other symptoms include feeling dizzy, vomiting, heart racing, sweating, anxiety, and paranoia. Police in Wiltshire say they are now using a new device to test vapes in schools to check if they have been contaminated. The force is working with Bath University, Swindon Borough Council and Wiltshire Council to test any suspected contaminated vapes to mitigate any further risks to students. Officers are urging parents to talk to their children about the dangers of using contaminated vapes after the discovery. PCSO Jon Akehurst said: 'I'd urge parents to have conversations with your child about the dangers and risks as well as what happens if they do use a vape which is contaminated with something. 'Make it clear that if you do take these things, it has an impact on your life. WHAT IS 'SPICE'? Spice is a synthetic high which falls into a category of substances that give the body an artificial rush of endorphins, or 'high'. It is a synthetic cannabinoid which has similar effects to natural cannabis. However it is much more potent and reacts more strongly with the brain's receptors. Regular use can cause a relapse of mental illness or increase the risk of developing one. Studies have shown it can also lead to heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, drowsiness, confusion, shaking, sweating, nausea, vomiting and fits. Along with many other so-called 'legal highs', Spice became illegal under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 and remains a category B drug, along with cannabis, ketamine and codeine. It is illegal to produce, sell or give away Spice. Sharing vapes containing THC or Spice with friends could result in a maximum prison sentence of 14 years or an unlimited fine. 'You may have a substance addiction; you might need it constantly, it's going to cost you money, and you could end up in debt. 'There are real-life consequences for anyone taking drugs. 'If you are concerned about your child, there are people that can help and support you. 'Unfortunately, with spice there can be many different reactions. 'We've seen vomiting and behaviour changes, and we've had an incident where there were concerns that a child was having a fit. 'The reactions can be very, very broad. Behaviour changes seem to be the biggest concern for schools, with students being fine before lunch, but after lunch they are elevated in aggression, say.' A shocking study last year found that one in six vapes confiscated from school children in England was found to be laced with the 'zombie drug' spice. Professor Chris Pudney, an expert in biotechnology from the University of Bath, conducted tests using the world's first portable device that instantly detects synthetic drugs. Working with concerned schools and police forces, he tested 596 confiscated vapes and discovered Spice at 28 out of 38 (74 per cent) of schools across London, the West Midlands, Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire. About one in six (16.6 per cent) of the vapes contained Spice, while roughly one in 100 (1.17 per cent) contained THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis. Earlier this year, it was reported by that pupils from Unity City Academy in Middlesbrough were admitted to hospital. Meanwhile, one teenage girl from Teesside collapsed at school after trying a contaminated vape containing the spice drug. Professor Pudney 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.'
