Spice Vaping

[WherewereyouB]

My 15 yr old DS has revealed that he and his friends were all addicted to vaping synthetic weed (also known as Spice). He says he has given up, although one hasn't and seems very addicted. He was smoking every night before bed he says, for several months and even had some inside his super strict school. His grades plummeted, but I had no clue why. He tells me this is just 'normal year 10, everyone does it'. I had talked loads about the dangers of THC from at least year 9, as well as other drugs, and thought I was pretty much on top of it. But we had absolutely no idea he was vaping it as it is odourless. Other mums totally horrified as well. We can't go to school and tell them about what we know, as we risk any of them getting expelled, but where to go for support? Do parents realise how widespread and dangerous this is? If my DS is right, its everywhere and could even be your child too.

there is no outcry about this and very little information about what is happening and what parents can do. ‘Talk to your child’ is one thing I read but it’s not good enough. I’ve spoken to my local councillor who recognises it as a public health issue and is contacting others in the council. She thinks they might need to crack down on shops selling vapes to kids. Fake ID should never be accepted, for example. There’s lots to do. But look at it this way, it’s an easy product to sell on the black market, and if you’re a seller you’ll improve your product and supply chain, so it needs some lateral thinking. Sadly this government is incapable of that. I fear pathetic platitudes and empty promises. The time to act is now, but they’re lobbied hard by the tobacco/vape companies, whilst our children are at serious risk. Death but also long term harm, prison, all sorts.

I agree it's probably too late to call a ban without tackling the bigger issue. I am just so, so angry that they have been allowed to sell them point blank in first place. They are blatantly targeting our kids with the flavours/colours. These kids have probably never even smoked! I see them posing in Instagram with vape like it's an accessory. They blame the parents of course, but I blame the government and society in general.

The tobacco industry has cynically turned round a generation who would be smoking far less, by selling them vapes and hooking them on nicotine. It’s as if they didn’t care….🤯(oh and they’ll deny this and deny links to illegal products). All you need to do is look at the number of shops selling them and think, is this really just targeting people giving up smoking?….

Agreed, vapes are readily on display in supermarkets, shops and also so many vape shops around. It's like one step forward and 3 steps back. When I was at the pub there were very smokers outside, tons of capers though.

I have also just discovered that my DC has been using this - just had a complete breakdown crying telling me they want to stop. Does anyone have any tips? How do I help them and ensure they don't go back to it?

Despite how worried you must be, it’s very likely that this will be a phase. I’ve known many young men who have dabbled recreationally and have turned out absolutely fine.

Some facts:

THC and Spice are two very different substances, but they work on the same area of the brain (the cannabinoid receptors). Spice is a super-high strength synthetic cannabinoid, whereas TCH is a compound derived from cannabis plants. There are other compounds in cannabis which can be hugely beneficial if used correctly. I periodically take CBD (another different cannabis compound) oil which helps immensely with anxiety and peri menopausal symptoms. I buy this legally from a reputable company. Taking Spice isn’t at all similar to ingesting/smoking cannabis and I’d take it extremely seriously if I found out anyone I knew, or their children were involved with this substance. Spice is rife in prisons and the homeless population.

A good place to start would be to contact Frank (for some non-judgmental advice).

And just sending you the hugest hand hold…you’ve got this, and your boy will be OK

Thank you so much for the really helpful response. I've not slept a wink and honestly am beside myself. He says that 'all' of his friends are using it too (in vapes) which is making me even more terrified of whether he will successfully stop. He admitted to stealing money from us and he was very upset about that and other things he's done recently to hurt me, and says he's also frightened after suffering some strange side effects (eg he says it makes his body 'numb').

I just want to take him away from all this and bring him somewhere safe but I don't suppose that place exists!

I do think it's rife here, we've had communications from school about it, though to be truthful I didn't really understand what it was about as I hadn't heard of it before, now I understand of course.

Thanks again.

@WherewereyouB
I was just wondering how your son is?
One of my son's friends had a bad experience with it this weekend, my son was there but said he hadn't smoked anything (he was staying at a friend's so I didn't see him).