Officials have stepped up efforts to both warn school age youngsters of the dangers of vaping and learn more about the extent of the problem.
Council officers working in trading standards, health representatives and officers from Cleveland Police have been into secondary schools on Teesside to warn about dangerous vapes found to contain illegal substances such as ‘spice’ which can cause serious health conditions.
A sniffer dog was taken into three schools and an amnesty box put into use in order that vapes could be handed in, no questions asked.
Mark Adams, joint director of public health at Public Health South Tees, previously penned letters to schools in Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland outlining the risks of some substances that can be contained in vapes after a handful of incidents in which youngsters were hospitalised.
A real-time reporting mechanism has now also been developed by the body for use in schools and local A&E departments, which was launched at the start of the new academic term last month.
The aim is to get a better understanding of the extent of incidents involving age restricted products, including vapes, particularly as figures on A&E attendances due to vaping have to date been limited, so resources can be allocated more effectively and support provided in a timely manner.
The reporting mechanism is an online form that collects information about incidents, although not information that would identify the individuals involved.
A booklet has also been produced for schools and their heads which signposts to local support services available and includes a QR code which links to the online form.
Where information is disclosed regarding where underage/illegal products have been bought from, this can be useful intelligence for trading standards.
Occasionally incidents can also be reviewed by a panel of multi-agency representatives to establish lessons learned with a view to reducing similar incidents in the future.
A spokesman for Public Health South Tees said there had been a “number of instances” across the area during the last academic year where pupils had to be taken to hospital after vaping unknown substances, with tests later confirming the presence of spice, a synthetic drug that mimics the main psychoactive chemical in cannabis.
However the effects can be far stronger and lead users to lose all muscle coordination, with other negative impacts including nausea and panic attacks.
The spokesman said: “Police and public health teams regularly work with schools to raise awareness of the dangers of vaping and vaping substances among other things.
“Services for working 1-2-1 with individuals are also promoted to all pupils and staff.”
Meanwhile across the wider North-East Operation Joseph, funded by His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and co-ordinated by a trading standards regional enforcement team based in Redcar and Cleveland, is targeting the illegal vape trade with continued seizures of products from retail and residential premises.
A one-off contract worth £19,233, funded by HMRC, was recently awarded on behalf of 12 local councils in the region to collect and safely dispose of vapes seized.
In the last 12 months more than 43,000 vapes which do not comply with UK legislation have been seized in the North-East alone.
While the sale of vapes to under 18s is illegal, the Government last year announced plans to close a loophole allowing the vaping industry to give free samples of vapes to children in England amid concern over a surge in their use and the promotion of cheap, colourful products with enticing flavours.
Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty said vapes, also known as e-cigarettes, had been shown to be effective in helping regular smokers quit since they usually contain nicotine and are deemed to be of a lesser risk, but it was important that non-smokers were not encouraged to start vaping.
According to the NHS 9% of children aged 11 to 15 have tried vapes, although that figure was from 2021 and is likely to have risen since.
