Synthetic cannabinoids found in 13% of school vapes tested

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Easy to use, stealth-like and extremely potent, Synthetic Cannabinoids/THC vapes have quickly become the go to for cannabis users who need to fly under the radar. It makes sense that the ears of our curious teenagers in England may well have pricked up at the idea of getting high without attracting the unwanted attention of those attempting to safeguard them against the harms of drugs.

With almost 1 in 5 students experimenting with the consumption of fruity nicotine flavours via flashy, colour coordinated vapes (Ash, 2024) the switch to cannabis containing electronic delivery products was a no brainer. Young people and cannabis use is as old as the hills. The latest data shows that 11% of pupils thought that it was “okay for someone their own age to use cannabis to see what it was like” and that it was the first used drug by 72% of 15 year olds who had experimented with an illegal substance (NHS England, 2024).

Adding the constant and hotly debated global dialogue regarding cannabis policy reform, legalisation and regulation means that the drug has been normalised in conversations in our UK schools despite remaining a Class B substance. The introduction of Synthetic Cannabinoids (SCs) into the UK drug market started as a result of THC’s legal status. Legal highs including SCs swept the streets of the UK before being banned under the Psychoactive Substances Act (2016). The PSA Act seemingly removed SCs from mainstream use for almost a decade before reemerging since the Covid-19 Pandemic in vape form. This comeback was not due to supply and demand as we find in the majority of drug markets, but more as a result of an opportunity to exploit an unregulated vape market by replacing a costly cannabis product with an extremely cheap alternative. As nicotine vapes moved from disposable to refill, so did the opportunity to contaminate e-liquids with Synthetic Cannabinoids as homemade concoctions became mainstream.

Young people, broadly speaking, don’t like the effects of Synthetic Cannabinoids, but the naive user may have believed or could be fooled into thinking that what they were feeling and experiencing from SCs was what a cannabis “high” actually felt like. The feeling of being under the influence of a drug is subjective and often ineffable, which opened the door for entrepreneurial dealers to profit from an inexperienced and curious adolescent market who couldn’t afford nor recognise the real deal. The naive user group of young nicotine vapers and wannabe stoners were an open goal to introduce Synthetic Cannabinoids labelled as THC as a way to make money fast. Social media, in 99% of young people’s pockets, provided a seamless and viable platform for sales and distribution.

Another unique selling point of vapes was the lack of potent cannabis smell when used. This has been cited as an advantage in terms of using the drug in public places or at home (GM Trends, 2025). Weed smoke, so inextricably smelly that the UK media continue to name it “Skunk”, would expose the user quickly and be impossible to hide from parents or authorities whereas Synthetic Cannabinoids tend to taste of sweet vape flavours and often have a non-descript smell which made them harder to detect.

In terms of effects, THC is a partial agonist of the CB1 receptor. Synthetic Cannabinoids act as full agonists meaning their effects are often over-powering, unpleasant and significantly more dangerous. The “high” is often described as similar to cannabis, but more intense and shorter lasting in comparison.

This research paper from Pudney et al (2025) follows on from one published last year that established a high prevalence of SCs in e-cigarettes seized from English schools and suggested that many of these were sourced through social media. This second paper expands on that data and presents evidence of the availability of these substances on social media, suggesting they are a very real threat to secondary school children in the UK.

Have refillable nicotine vapes became the perfect vessel for fake THC vapes?

Methods

1,933 samples of assorted disposable vapes, refillable vapes and bottles of vape juice were collected from schools in Devon and Cornwall, Essex, Lancashire and Merseyside by researchers in conjunction with local police forces during the 2024–25 academic year. In total, 114 secondary schools worked with the research team. The samples submitted had been confiscated or found by school staff via standard school procedures.

These samples were tested for controlled substances using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (qNMR) spectroscopy.

Researchers also looked at three different social media platforms: Facebook, TikTok and Instagram, in an attempt to assess the online market for these products. Searching a variety of labels including ‘THC’, ‘Spice’ and ‘K2’ the aim was to find accounts that were mis-selling. The research team used a variety of visual factors such as products being unlabelled, having low-viscosity (compared to cannabis products) or having a powder as a visual image to determine whether sellers were mis-selling or providing the product that was advertised.

Results

Having completed the chemical analysis of 1,933 products, researchers found that 13% of those tested contained a Synthetic Cannabinoid of some kind. This equals 251 products in total out of 1,933.

Researchers found that Synthetic Cannabinoids were mainly present in refillable vape products (21%) and unlabelled vape juice bottles (96%) as opposed to single use or disposable vapes (0.9%).

During their analysis, researchers also found three isolated examples of vapes containing other substances, two containing ketamine and one containing MDMA, but note that the amounts of substances found were negligible.

13% of vape samples tested contained Synthetic Cannabinoids.

This study found that 13% of vape samples collected and tested from schools across three English counties contained Synthetic Cannabinoids.

Conclusions

The authors concluded from this research that…

Synthetic Cannabinoids (SCs) remain a persistent threat in English schools…

… the mis-selling of SCs as THC on social media represents a major pathway to harm for young people.

They observe a strong link to re-fillable vape products being prioritised for this behaviour, as opposed to disposable vapes, and that the legislation which targets single-use vapes across the UK currently, is unlikely to solve this issue.

The analysis of social media platforms concluded that there was an online market where Synthetic Cannabinoids were being sold as THC vapes and that there was correlation between this activity and sites used by young people.

The authors conclusion is that their findings demonstrate an urgent need for targeted harm reduction strategies in schools, greater accountability for social media platforms, and localised public health interventions to address this evolving challenge.

caption: Synthetic Cannabinoids remain a persistent threat in English schools, requiring school harm reduction, social media platform accountability, and local interventions.

Synthetic Cannabinoids remain a persistent threat in English schools, requiring school harm reduction, social media platform accountability, and local public health interventions.

Strengths and limitations

Strengths

Spanning three different counties and adding numerous schools with varying demographics enabled the researchers to show that this is a national trend as opposed to localised incidents or an influx of specific drugs in specific areas.
The engagement of schools in research is crucial in order to set the scene for future drug messaging that prioritises harm reduction and a “support don’t punish” ethos which is backed by evidence.
The review of social media attempts to review the drug landscape through the eyes of the student and promotes a shift to including their view as experts in their own experience.
The inclusion of the research in the mainstream press promotes that those in education settings increase awareness and potentially engage with research project opportunities themselves. This in turn should open doors and access to commissioned services in their area in order to increase specialist provision, explore policy change and think about drugs in the school environment.

Weaknesses

How were the vapes found? Was this a result of searches, health related incidents, confiscation due to use or something different? These are important factors in determining motivations for use and what other drugs are in our schools.

Researchers used a visual eye test to make assumptions about a product’s legitimacy when advertised on social media. We must continue to deliver the message to people who may use drugs that the eye test cannot be used to accurately determine what it is in a drug. Whilst we can make educated assumptions, we cannot draw any firm conclusions from these photographs or videos.

It is worth noting that certain social media sites may lend themselves to drug culture more than others. A better understanding of the national and international drug market could be gained by focusing research on anonymous platforms such as Reddit and Telegram, rather than on more visible and less secure sites like Facebook and Instagram, which young people tend to use more cautiously and less frequently for this purpose.

251 products in total that were potentially contaminated or contained. What we can only guess at is the motivation for use. Were these vapes bought knowingly as Synthetic Cannabinoids or did the purchaser believe they had purchased THC? What were the consumption patterns of the young people involved and did they receive support from treatment services or come into contact with the criminal justice system? It is possible, given what we know about the effects of Synthetic Cannabinoids that these were one-off experiences. It is not uncommon to hear of vapes that are sold on, thrown away or used once following ill effects or an unpleasant experience.

We could learn so much from the testimonies of young people. Their insight is crucial, as experts in their own experience, and would inform us more about the reality of the situation at hand and what we could do to support them and others in similar situations in the future.

Multi-county data reveals national trends in SCs in vapping products, but youth testimonies on usage and motivation could provide further insight into the findings.

Multi-county data reveals trends in Synthetic Cannabinoids in vaping products, but youth testimonies would provide further valuable insight into the findings.

Implications for practice

This paper highlights that there are real issues with regards to the reality of drugs in English schools. It raises questions of how we prevent this, educate our students and teach the workforce to safeguard young people using a child-centred and health-based approach to drug related incidents.

Researchers found that Synthetic Cannabinoids were mainly present in refillable vape products (21%) and unlabelled vape juice bottles (96%) as opposed to single use or disposable vapes (0.9%). This also reflects what we hear from young people, that the legitimate THC vape market is now clearly divided between expensive, mainly legitimate products and cheap, contaminated products.

Legitimacy is an issue however. Imported (generally via the US and Canadian regulated markets) THC vapes can be obtained, particularly via Telegram drug markets, but there is also an entrepreneurial market where dealers are making their own concentrates and oil (live resin) and decantering this into empty, 3D printed vape cartridges which are freely available to buy online. Whilst these homemade products may appear to be professionally made, they lack the quality control and safety measures that a regulated market provides.

Potency is a key concern even if THC is present. The average cannabis bud (flower) in the UK is approximately 20% THC content and will contain a mixture of cannabinoids (CBD, CBG, THCA etc). There is evidence to suggest that this blend of chemical compounds (referred to as the entourage effect) offers the typical and pleasurable “high” associated with cannabis when it is consumed. THC vapes can be found to contain up to 90% THC and if additional cannabinoids are missing this can result in intense, overwhelming or unwanted effects (Crew, 2024).

These harms are even more pronounced where Synthetic Cannabinoids are concerned. There is emerging evidence that synthetic cannabis products pose a significant risk to mental health, even where pre-existing conditions have not been identified. Whilst research into the longevity of these concerns is ongoing, there are indications of psychosis-like symptoms including hallucinations, anxiety, paranoia and aggression linked to consumption (Tarplet, 2025).

Researchers found that some vapes were found to contain other substances, namely ketamine and MDMA. These drugs are salts that become unstable when heated and as such do not lend themselves to being vaped efficiently. These findings are more likely to be the result of experimentation by users or cross contamination from suppliers. With 16.5 per cent of 16-to 24-year-olds reporting taking a drug in the last year (ONS, 2024) the drug market would be saturated by these vapes given the popularity of the substances in this cohort and examples are not available in the disposable form.

Returning our focus to young people, we should consider that every behaviour is a communication. This can lead us to question why and how these vapes are being discovered in our schools. We should try to understand the motivations of the student and the context and relationship to the substance. Synthetic cannabinoids are generally speaking not substances that are used for pleasure or fun. If this was the case, we would be inundated with use across our adolescent population. With this in mind, what purpose do they serve and why are they being found?

In terms of practice, our focus should shift to safeguarding and the message that the student involved is stating that they are not okay by making us aware of this behaviour. NHS England’s ‘Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use’ survey (2024) suggests that drug use has strong correlation with young people who have poor life satisfaction and therefore we should carefully consider our reaction and policies regarding drug use generally. Exclusion should be avoided at all costs and education and inclusion prioritised to support the young person to remain intact within the protective school environment.

There is a need to develop robust, naturally occurring relationships with drug services and our schools in order to deliver universal and targeted education around all drugs including vape products. It is imperative that this education is age appropriate and evidence-based, so as not to be counterproductive, and that it is balanced in order to create honest open discussions and relationships with safe adults in regards to drug use. Commissioned services can play a vital role in this, offering safeguarding that extends beyond what schools can realistically provide and can offer confidentiality and reassurance for students to disclose drug use without fear of stigmatisation or consequences to protective factors.

In a world where cannabis products (including cannabis vapes) are being offered as legitimate medicines for adults and our young people are crying out for adequate mental health support, we need to examine the narrative between support and punishment and remain child-centred in our reaction to illicit drug trends and use in our schools.

Education and Harm Reduction

Can you sniff it? The majority of THC vapes will smell of cannabis because they are cannabis oil or concentrate which is extracted from the plant.
If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. Cheap, homemade, coloured liquids are almost certainly not THC. Price points are for THC distillate or live resin vapes on Telegram markets currently are between £20-£50 per vape. SC refill bottles have a street price of £5-£15.
Other semi-synthetic THC is available in the cannabis vape market and distinctions are not always made between these and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. It’s worth considering that you may not be vaping cannabis or SCs but you could be inhaling something like HHC, Delta-8 or THC-0 which will have different and potentially unpleasant effects.
Don’t believe everything that you read. Certificates of analysis are easy to falsify. Craft et al (2025) found that sealed and ‘professionally’ packaged THC vapes which were advertised as containing semi-synthetic versions of THC actually contained SCs.
Remember that THC vapes can vary in potency and could contain other drugs like SCs. Start low, go slow, take time between doses to feel the full effects.
Avoid mixing with other drugs like alcohol (often referred to by young people as “Crossfading”). This increases the chance of having a bad or unwanted experience.
Set breaks, vapes can be hard to put down. Keep an eye on your tolerance and re-dose times and be aware that full onset of effect to peak effect could take up to 30 minutes.
In an emergency seek help, fast. Call an ambulance if you feel unwell and be honest with emergency services about poly drug use and any other details that could support them helping someone that is unwell.

Harm reduction for SCs mis-sold as THC vapes prioritizes education on smell/price checks, low-dose starts, avoiding mixes, tolerance breaks, and honest emergency calls to safeguard youth from severe mental health risks like psychosis.

Harm reduction for Synthetic Cannabinoids mis-sold as THC vapes prioritizes education on smell/price checks, low-dose starts, avoiding mixes, tolerance breaks, and honest emergency calls to safeguard youth from severe mental health risks.

Statement of Interests

Nick Hickmott has no conflicts of interest.

Edited by

Dr Dafni Katsampa.

Links

Primary paper

Gyles Cozier, Matthew Gardner, Sam Craft, Martine Skumlien, Jack Spicer, Rachael Andrews, Alexander Power, Tom Haines, Richard Bowman, Amy Manley, Peter Sunderland, Oliver Sutcliffe, Stephen Husbands, Lindsey Hines, Gillian Taylor, Tom Freeman, Jennifer Scott, Christopher Pudney (2025). Synthetic cannabinoids in e‐cigarettes seized from English schools. Addiction, 120(10), 1995–2004.