PARENTS have been issued an urgent warning as school children have collapsed after inhaling a cannabis derivative and vape mix.
Police have urged people to talk to their kids about the dangers of vaping after a suspected prank left a group in hospital after being given the substances in Sleaford, Lincolnshire.
Cops suspect that a group of youths mixed THC with vape liquids and cruelly offered them to unsuspecting children in the town centre.
This led to at least three of the youngsters collapsing and requiring hospital treatment, although all have since recovered.
THC is the psychoactive element of cannabis largely responsible for it being a controlled substance, unlike the anti-inflammatory CBD which is legal in the UK despite being derived from the same plant.
Vapes can be misused to inhale cannabis-derived liquids and synthetic drugs.
Sergeant Stuart Mumby-Croft, of Sleaford Neighbourhood Police Team told Lincolnshire Live: “We had reported incidents in which three children collapsed in the town centre.
“Following inquiries, we believe that some youths may have been mixing THC (a derivative of cannabis) liquids with vape liquids and offered them to children, who were unaware of the mix of substances.
“We have engaged with all three local schools to advise parents of the issue and we would like to take this opportunity to reinforce this message about speaking to your children regarding the dangers of vaping in general and particularly in accepting vapes, or a drag of a vape, from other people.”
In a letter to parents, Sergeant Mumby-Croft added that there was no suggestion that the children involved had inhaled the THC voluntarily knowing what it was.
He explained that one of the police’s theories is that it was part of a “very dangerous and misguided” prank.
He continued: “We have entered an age where our children now are far more likely to vape than smoke…Vapes afford children the opportunity to ingest nicotine much more secretly than they can with a lit cigarette with a more limited risk of being detected.
“Children under 18 should not be able to purchase them, but the volume we are finding among young teenagers, especially cheap disposable vapes, is high.
“I am sure I do not need to tell you of the dangers if your children accept, borrow or purchase vapes from other pupils, friends or associates.
“I must ask you please to have frank conversations with your children about both the dangers of vaping and nicotine addiction, but also to press home the message that trusting someone willing to give or sell you a vape on the street is unwise and fraught with risk.”
