Kids as young as 11 using vapes laced with highly addictive drug spice trigger schools demand

A U.S. federal court has ordered Meta to pay a penalty of nearly $1 billion for alleged harms caused to children through its social media platforms. The ruling was issued by a New Mexico judge following a lawsuit initiated by the state’s attorney general in 2023. The case centered on claims that Meta’s services contributed to mental health issues, addiction, and self-harm among minors. The lawsuit alleged that Meta failed to adequately protect children from exposure to harmful content, including cyberbullying, misinformation, and addictive features designed to keep users engaged for extended periods. The court’s decision marks a significant escalation in regulatory pressure on technology companies, particularly regarding their responsibility toward underage users. In parallel, concerns over the proliferation of illicit substances among children have intensified in the United Kingdom. A recent report highlighted that children as young as 11 are using vapes laced with a highly addictive substance known as spice. Spice, a synthetic cannabinoid, is significantly more potent and dangerous than traditional cannabis. According to experts, it can induce severe psychological effects, including dissociation and hallucinations, and is associated with a “zombie-like” state in users. A study conducted by the University of Bath found that 13% of e-cigarettes and e-liquids sampled from schools across England contained traces of spice. This percentage increased to approximately 25% in certain regions, such as London and Lancashire. Professor Chris Pudney, who led the research, noted that spice-laced vapes are being discovered in secondary schools, with students as young as 11 identified as users. He explained that some adolescents deliberately seek out these products, while others are unwittingly exposed due to the widespread availability of such substances online. Pudney emphasized the alarming potency of spice, comparing its addictive nature to that of crack cocaine. He warned that younger users, often introduced to the substance by peers or strangers offering them a vape, could rapidly develop dependency without fully understanding the risks. “For younger kids, I think that is the real worry, someone offers them a vape and says: ‘Try this, you’ll like it,’” he stated. “It’s very strong drugs. They probably will quite like it, but very quickly you can become addicted and not really know what you’ve got in hand.” Hope UK, a drugs and alcohol education charity, has called for urgent reforms in school curricula to include comprehensive drug education. Sarah Brighton, the organization’s chief executive, criticized current government measures aimed at reducing youth access to vapes, noting that these efforts have not effectively addressed the growing issue. She pointed out that while laws banning colorful, appealing disposable vapes have been enacted, the problem has simply shifted to more discreet, rechargeable systems that resemble legal products. Brighton argued that children remain largely unaware of the dangers posed by spice-laced vapes. She stressed that many adults struggle to distinguish between legal and illegal vape products, further complicating efforts to safeguard young users. “The main problem we’re finding with spice-laced vapes is that children are completely unaware of the risks,” she said. “Most adults would be hard pressed to tell the difference between a legal and an illegal product.” As both the U.S. and U.K. grapple with escalating public health crises linked to technology and illicit substances, officials and advocates continue to push for stronger regulations, improved educational resources, and enhanced oversight of digital spaces where these threats thrive.