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Original poster

What do I do..... DC vaped THC at school and got sick

37 replies

Noangelbuthavingfun · 17/06/2025 19:26

Out of the blue. Two weeks ago at a friend's sleepover I got a call from the parent saying DC poorly and they confessed to a THC vape. Disappointed doesn't even cut it. Queue lots of research on dangers etc and an honest conversation.
Two weeks later and I needed to pick them up from school as got ill at school. They confessed to school they tried it again... very ill.
What 3puld you do ? What consequences would you put in place ? If you've dealt with similar before can you tell your story ?
He's a good kid - mostly. Friends from nice backgrounds. I'm shocked and so angry. They've git their birthday in 2 weeks and I'm inclined to cancel it all. No presents. Turning 15. I'm frustrated but trying not to act like a lunatic and rather understand . But twice ? Help me navigate this please

OP posts:
GretaGreen · 17/06/2025 20:01

Was it THC or those HHC vapes that are everywhere now with teens?

Dd is 15 and tried a HHC vape, she freaked out completely and rang me and confessed all. I'm not sure that you can do anything to stop them completely, they think they know best at that age. She felt incredibly ill and thought she was going to die. We talked it through, I praised her for ringing me and telling me, spoke about the stupidity of it, the things that can go wrong etc and as far as I know she hasn't tried it again, she certainly didn't enjoy it the first time but my parents didn't think I was drinking every weekend at that age either.

I agree that it is a difficult situation trying to balance keeping them open with you but putting the foot down at the same time.

Stripeyanddotty · 17/06/2025 20:00

The second happened on schools watch so I'd be asking them how they are going to keep him safe.

He is 15. Would you suggest he is searched every day? Is accompanied by a member of staff all day long ?

EggnogNoggin · 17/06/2025 19:57

The first one you gave him a supportive free pass for.

The second happened on schools watch so I'd be asking them how they are going to keep him safe.

I'd be telling him if there's a third time then I'd consider his mates a bad influence and he'd be grounded so he cant see them, with the threat of going further and seeking to move him away from his friends in class and then into different classes if he continues.

Lullabycrickets23 · 17/06/2025 19:51

I would shock him a bit with real time stories and videos of people addicted. No one never starts with the intention of reaching certain levels of addiction and the mental/physical and social consequences…but every addict starts somewhere.

Original poster
Noangelbuthavingfun · 17/06/2025 19:45

I agree... I won't cancel.the birthday I know its not proportional. What would you do though and still encourage open communication and honesty ? I don't want to drive this underground...

OP posts:
Londonrach1 · 17/06/2025 19:44

I wouldn't cancel birthday as it's a birthday.... I'm with you op here...I view smoking and vaping as the same ...could you show him popcorn lungs and have a discussion but I know 15 year olds and they know they right and you wrong. Do you know anyone with breathing problems...I know people on oxygen and with their agreement I know I'd use this..dreading teenager years .. hoping someone with teenage knowledge come along soon

AgnesX · 17/06/2025 19:42

It's not unreasonable to come up with a punishment but not cancel the birthday imo. He should have learned the first time and deserves zero sympathy for being ill.

noctilucentcloud · 17/06/2025 19:39

I personally don't think cancelling a birthday and all presents is fair. It's good he told you / school (you need the honesty in case you needed to get him medical attention) but it was stupid of him to try again especially as the first time made him ill. Hopefully he's learnt his lesson. I don't know what punishment I'd suggest but I think cancelling a birthday is too much.

Original poster
Noangelbuthavingfun · 17/06/2025 19:37

First consequence was grounded for the weekend and a project yuey had to complete of the dangers of THC vapes... about 6 questions.. love chatgpt!
Sick as in pins and needles, skin crawling, feeling weak, incoherent and anxiety. Both times. Obviously the first time wasn't enough and they said they wanted to try it again to see if they get the same feeling the mates get - they just took too much ! Idiot

OP posts:
PeonyPanda · 17/06/2025 19:35

I’m so sorry - you must be so frustrated.

There’s a risk that vapes advertised as having thc actually contain spice : https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c897qw8ddp9o.amp

in which case, it’s very easy to get addicted. If my ds had done this, I would want to hit roof and confiscate screens etc. however, it’s probably better to have a conversation and try to make sure he understands the risk he’s taking.

the fact that kids bump out of lessons to vape in toilets at school - I think we need to start treating them as addicts. But I will defer to others that know more than me.

think if there was an easy solution we wouldn’t be in this position.

Prof Chris Pudney using scientific equipment

Pupils unwittingly smoking spiked vapes University of Bath study finds - BBC News

University of Bath research has found schoolchildren are smoking vapes spiked with the drug spice.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c897qw8ddp9o.amp

Wolfpa · 17/06/2025 19:31

How sick were they? It is possible that they have already experienced natural consequences to their actions, enough to put them off for life.

BakelikeBertha · 17/06/2025 19:29

What punishment did he receive the first time OP?

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