School children using vapes laced with drugs like Spice
BBCMore than a quarter of children across Blackburn and Darwen have used a vape laced with drugs, according to a recent health survey.
The figures were revealed by the charity Healthwatch at a local authority meeting on Tuesday.
What does the study show?
Some vapes are sold as containing the psychoactive compound in cannabis THC, but government research suggests many of them actually contain the illegal synthetic street drug Spice.
About 28% of school-aged children surveyed in the borough admitted to smoking an illegal THC or Spice-infused vape, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.
More than half of the 107 school children (52.3%) health experts spoke to admitted to using nicotine vapes, which, like cigarettes, legally should only be sold to people over the age of 18.
About 42% of those surveyed said that most of their friendship group also used vapes, a further 41% said they had been given a vape by someone they know.
Why are they using the vapes?
Sarah Johns, chief officer of Healthwatch for the borough, said that many listed boredom as a reason for trying a vape with drugs.
The 28% figure was described as "very high" at a Blackburn with Darwen Council public health meeting.
Janine Day, who works for Early Break, a charity that helps young children facing substance abuse issues, said: "In schools you get one or two young people who find these vapes and take them in, then sharing it around their peer group."
"Often when we have had a referral for a young person, they've generally gone to A&E feeling sick."
She said her charity routinely tests vapes and other substances used by children, and they had noticed many now contain a high concentration of THC.
LDRSWhat did the council say?
Councillor Julie Gunn said vapes had their place to help adults stop smoking, but her "real concern is the growing number of people who are using vapes who have never smoked, particularly children and young people".
"It's important that research like this from Healthwatch is undertaken so that we know the extent of the problem. When children and young people are buying vapes, it is often illicit and so the ingredients cannot be guaranteed and may be even more harmful."
The survey results shared by Healthwatch come after recent police raids in both Darwen and Blackburn.
Last month, Lancashire Constabulary raided two addresses in the borough where they found a number of these suspected THC-laced vapes, alongside a number of cannabis-infused sweet packages that appeared to be targeted at children.
EPAHow will the problem be addressed?
Prof Abdul Razaq, director of public health for Blackburn with Darwen, said the local authority was using education programmes and support to try and cut numbers of young people vaping.
He said agencies like police and the young people's substance misuse service are working with schools to provide "training around vaping, and the presence of illicit substances in vapes and other nicotine products".
"A range of practical help and support is available for young people, including one‑to‑one interventions to help them stop vaping, targeted group work where issues are identified within schools, and awareness‑raising sessions delivered through assemblies and wider school events.
"We're also keen to deter adults vaping around children and young people, as this can normalise vaping from a young age."
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