The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) has stressed the impact that the rise of illegal spice vapes has had on regulated nicotine vape retailers.

The UKVIA has also called for urgent government action to protect young people due to the increase in illegal products, which has been enabled through people misusing ‘open’ vape devices – where e-liquid can be added by the consumer – to deliver synthetic cannabinoids such as spice and psychoactive chemical THC, which is found in cannabis. Spice is more harmful and unpredictable than cannabis, according to the NHS.

UKVIA director general John Dunne said: “Consumers can feel confident that when they buy regulated products from any reputable vape supplier, that they will be getting nicotine vapes which are designed to help them transition from cigarettes.

“I am worried, however, that there are vape devices available from unofficial sources which may contain illegal drugs and that those who buy them may have no idea what is contained in these products.”

According to Office for Health Improvement & Disparities (OHID) statistics, of the 12,418 young people aged under 18 in contact with alcohol and drug services between April 2022 and March 2023, cannabis was the most common substance (87%) for which young people sought treatment. Of the 10,837 young people reported having a problem with cannabis, 1,737 said they had a problem with nicotine.

Dunne added: “There have already been scare stories in the media with headlines such as, ‘vapes confiscated in schools contain the zombie drug spice’, and this causes people to wrongly believe that the nicotine vape industry is responsible for this new trend.

“We need the government to step on now with a nationwide education campaign in traditional and social media to highlight the dangers of obtaining vape devices from unofficial sources and explaining the differences between legal and illegal vape products.

“Unless a clear distinction is made between the regulated vape market supplying adult smokers with products which are 95% less harmful than cigarettes and the unofficial supply of illegal products, then people will become wary of all vapes with the potential to drive smoking rates back up again.”

The UKVIA has also stressed its support of the introduction of a national vape licensing scheme which would provide more than £50m annual funding to clamp down on illegal vape sales, backed up with fines of £10,000 upon conviction for rogue retailers.

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