Researchers at the University of Bath have documented a concerning trend of children obtaining vapes laced with spice, a synthetic cannabinoid also known as a “prison drug,” often while believing they are purchasing cannabis products. In an analysis of 1,923 vapes confiscated from children across 114 English schools, researchers identified that 13% contained spice, with rates reaching 25% in London and Lancashire. When the drug-testing service Wedinos examined 297 samples labeled as containing THC, CBD, or cannabis in the year up to March 2025, approximately 39% actually contained spice.
The vapes are readily available through social media platforms, with one researcher’s analysis suggesting that 68% of products advertised on TikTok contained spice compared with 12% on Facebook. Children have reported purchasing these products for as little as ten pounds after encountering advertisements on social platforms. The appeal to dealers stems from the economics of production: approximately £1,000 to £1,500 in materials purchased from China can produce enough spice to generate roughly £1 million in revenue when sold as vape liquid.
Spice differs significantly from natural cannabis in its pharmacological properties and risks. Rather than the partial binding that THC exhibits, spice molecules bind much more strongly to cell receptors, creating substantially more powerful effects. According to a 2015 Global Drugs Survey, the risk of requiring emergency medical treatment when using spice was 30 times greater than when using high-potency cannabis strains. Health risks associated with spice use include psychosis, aggressive behavior, hypertensive crises, seizures, and cardiac arrest, along with serious addiction potential.
The lack of distinctive odor makes spice vapes particularly difficult to identify in school settings, where neither educators nor students can readily distinguish them from conventional nicotine vapes. Experts note that some young people purchase inexpensive urine tests marketed as spice detectors, though researchers indicate these commercially available tests are not reliable. Laboratory testing remains the only definitive method for identifying vape contents, though such testing is not readily accessible at local levels.
Researchers and public health officials have called for increased regulatory enforcement against social media platforms under the Online Safety Act, with one academic presenting findings to Parliament earlier this year regarding the continued availability of drug-related content on major platforms. Tech companies have stated they remove the vast majority of such content proactively, though enforcement remains inconsistent.
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