Five children fell ill at Graeme High School in Falkirk on Monday after smoking an unknown substance through a vape, prompting a police investigation. One 13-year-old boy was taken to Forth Valley Royal Hospital as a precaution but has since been discharged.
Parents, who wished to remain anonymous, reported that the vapes were believed to contain cannabis and Spice, a synthetic cannabinoid also known as Zombie Spice. Spice was banned across the UK in 2016 and is known to cause hallucinations, aggression, and severe psychotic episodes.
One concerned mother said the children were smoking a 'weed pen' and that one child passed out. Another parent claimed the pupils thought they were buying cannabis but were sold Spice instead. The school confirmed that the vape did not belong to the students.
Police Scotland were called at around 1.05pm on December 18, 2023, and a joint inquiry with the school is ongoing. Falkirk Council stated that the young people involved were supported by staff, and guidance has been issued to parents and pupils about vaping risks.
Public Health Scotland consultant Dr Garth Reid noted that a 2022 survey found 10% of 13-year-olds and 25% of 15-year-olds in Scotland were using vapes, a sharp increase from 2015. Experts have expressed concern over the surge in youth vaping.
