The school issued a letter to parents after the terrifying instance (Picture: Herne Bay High)
A student has been hospitalised after collapsing from when they inhaled from a vape laced with cannabis and Spice outside their school gates.
The teenager had finished their school day at Herne Bay High, Kent, on February 29 when another student handed them the vape by the gates.
The vape turned out to contain THC – the active ingredient in cannabis – but also contained the synthetic drug Spice, causing the pupil to collapse right after taking a puff.
They were taken to hospital soon afterwards and have since recovered.
Principal Jon Boynes said in a letter to parents: ‘The student became very unwell, very quickly, to the point he collapsed.
‘Staff patrolling outside school managed to intervene, getting the emergency services to the scene very quickly where clinical interventions were required before the student was taken to hospital.
‘It has come to light that fluid in the vape had been purchased online from an unregistered source and we have been informed by clinicians that the product is a THC based-product which contained Spice – a highly dangerous drug.’
The teenager was rushed to hospital after collapsing (Picture: PA)
Spice, also known as K2 and Black Mamba, is a synthetic cannabinoid, which is illegal in the UK.
The Office for National Statistics revealed 169 people died from ‘poisoning’ from synthetic cannabinoids between 2018 and 2020.
The school contacted police, who are said to be investigating the supply chain of the illegal product.
It is the policy of the Herne Bay High – which is rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted – that ‘vapes and vaping have no place in school’.
Principal Boyes has since urged parents to discuss the dangers of vaping with their children, adding: ‘Fortunately, in this incident, the student has recovered, however, the clinical team that attended informed us they have had to deal with fatalities from the same/similar products.
‘We shall collaborate closely with the police and continue our in-school education into safe and healthy lifestyle choices.’
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Action on Smoking and Health revealed that the number of children using vapes tripled in the last three years – and more than 7.6% of 11 to 17-year-olds vape on a regular basis.
In January, the government announced plans to ban disposable vapes and regulate the marketing, packaging and flavours for liquids for non-disposables.
A spokesperson for Kent Police said: ‘Police in Herne Bay have been made aware of a medical incident in Bullockstone Road on February 29 which was reportedly caused by drugs in a vape.
‘Officers from the district’s Child Centred Policing Team carried out enquiries, speaking to those involved and giving them advice on the risks associated with illegal substances. Details of the incident have been recorded to assist officers should any similar reports be received.’
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