1 in 4 Blackburn children using THC vapes
Over a quarter of children across Blackburn and Darwen have used a drug-laced vape, according to a survey carried out by public health experts
Over a quarter of children across Blackburn and Darwen have used a drug-laced vape, according to a survey carried out by public health experts.
These discrete liquid-filled devices are often sold as containing a concentrated extract of the psychoactive compound in cannabis, THC, but government research suggests that many of these actually contain the synthetic street drug known as Spice.
Roughly 28 percent of school-aged children surveyed in the borough admitted to smoking an illegal THC or Spice-infused vape, community engagement experts Healthwatch revealed at a Health and Wellbeing Board meeting on Tuesday night (May 2).
While this figure was described as ‘very high’ at the quarterly Blackburn with Darwen Council public health meeting, other figures shared by Healthwatch revealed the scale of the problem facing families and schools across the area.
Over half of the 107 school children (52.3 per cent) spoken to by the health experts admitted to using nicotine vapes, which like cigarettes, should only be sold to people over the age of 18.
But in spite of this, 42 percent of those surveyed said that most of their friendship group were also using vapes. A similar number (41 percent) said they had been given a vape by someone they know.
Sarah Johns, the Chief Officer of Healthwatch for the borough, shared with councillors and other public health experts that the rise in teens using THC vapes was having an unwitting impact on some special educational needs treatments.
“Many don’t realise that it interacts badly with their ADHD meds and they are not being honest their GPs,” she revealed, adding that many cited boredom as a reason for trying a drug vape.
An expert who has worked with dozens of young children facing substance abuse issues, charity Early Break’s Operational Director Janine Day, said that these numbers were likely more complicated.
“In schools you get one or two young people who find these vapes and take them in, then sharing it around their peer group,” she explained of the one-in-four statistic.
The charity, which carries out both prevention services and interventions for teens and their families, also routinely tests vapes and other substances used by children. Day said experts had noticed many now contain actual THC, but in a very high concentration.
“Often when we have had a referral for a young person, they’ve generally gone to A and E feeling sick,” she explained, adding: “It might be a high potency but just because it’s high does not mean they won’t have a bad time.”
Councillor Julie Gunn, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education, has shared her concerns about the Healthwatch survey, saying: “As a smoking cessation aid for adults, vapes have their place, but my 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.”
This data shared by Healthwatch appears to be supported by recent raids carried out by Lancashire Constabulary in both Darwen and Blackburn.
Just last month, officers raided two addresses in the borough where they found a number of these suppose THC-laced vapes, alongside a number of cannabis-infused sweet packages that appeared to be targeted at children.
Professor Abdul Razaq, Director of Public Health for Blackburn with Darwen, explained what measures are being taken to tackle the problem, saying: “As a local authority, we are already working to reduce the numbers of young people getting into vaping, through education programmes and support.
“Public Health, Police, our local smoking cessation service, and the young people’s substance misuse service are working in partnership 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. We work closely with partners of the Blackburn with Darwen Smoke Free Alliance on a range of actions to reduce vaping in general. This includes research around children and young people vaping, working with local schools to develop vape-free policies, promoting smoke free homes and targeted work with high-risk groups.”
Smoking and vaping support for Blackburn with Darwen residents can be found here https://www.smokefreebwd.co.uk/