Spiked 'zombie vapes' whipped to schoolchildren on Snapchat put addicted teen into COMA and 'made them vomit blood again'

Waking up in a hospital bed, 19-year-old Ben immediately reached for his vape, unaware that the device had almost cost him his life.

The teenager, from Walessuffered three seizures, fell into a coma and “nearly died” after collapsing at home, with doctors later discovering he had been spiked with the dangerous drug Spice.

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Ben is among a growing number of young people who have become addicted to alcohol illegal vape pens with THC – a compound found in cannabis – after being lured by special offers on social media apps such as Snapchat.

The growing demand has given way to unscrupulous dealers who cut corners by lacing the products with cheaper drugs like Spice, leading to the horrific trend of 'zombie vapes', which recently five teenagers were rushed to hospital.

Speaking in the new BBC3 documentary Drugs Map of Britain, Ben reveals how he hid his addiction from family and friends, while a school principal warns we are “sleepwalking into a major epidemic”.

Ben says in the film: “I remember the first thing when I woke up in intensive care was asking for my vape because I was obviously so addicted.

“But I didn't think the vapor did this to me.”

The teen explains that he “never really smoked cannabis” but was drawn to the fumes because he could smoke them without his parents knowing.

He says: “I would deliver it to my home via Snapchat. At that time I smoked it so much that I had to smoke it just for myself.”

After his usual supply ran out, he tried “things that were much stronger” and “constantly felt high as a kite.” I didn't know what day it was.'

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But Ben remembers how his father, Kevin, came home from work one day to find his son “suffocated by his own illness.”

After being rushed to hospital, blood tests showed that Ben had this Herb in his system.

The highly addictive substance is sometimes referred to as the 'zombie drug' due to the effect it can have on users, who are often left lying around.

Ben adds: “If my parents didn't come home, I wouldn't be here right now.”

Horror hospital dashboard

The young boy's candid story comes weeks later Five teenagers were rushed to hospital after using a dodgy vape, leaving one in a coma fighting for his life.

Police were called to a school in Eltham, south-east London, after several young people reported feeling unwell.

One had to be placed in an induced coma and “was later revived and recovered”, the Met Police said.

Tests showed that the vapor suspected to be involved contained Spice and not Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

And this is not an isolated case similar incidents have been reported in other parts of the country, including Greater Manchesteras well as London.

A Met spokesperson added: “Four vapes have been sent for testing in recent weeks and all were found to contain the medicine herb rather than THC. This included one of the vapes recovered following an incident in Eltham.”

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In the documentary, a former drug dealer admits that he knew the drugs vapor juice which he sold to schoolchildren was spiked with Spice – shockingly revealing one customer even 'vomited blood'.

But he insists he “doesn't care” and that it is their job to do their own “due diligence”.

Former THC vape dealer Ricky, whose identity is protected, says: “Spice has some pretty bad side effects. But at the time I didn't really care.

“It's someone else's job to do their own research, do their own due diligence before they come in and buy something and inhale it repeatedly.

“It's not my problem. There were a few girls who threw up in class. There was a boy who threw up some blood. But he's so scared.”

And he defiantly emphasizes: 'Worse things happen. And you take that responsibility when you buy unreliable things from unreliable people, and do unreliable things with them.

“It's not up to me. It's just business.”

If we remain silent about it, we are guilty of allowing sleepwalking youth into a major pandemic

Headteacher Tony McCabe

Headteacher Tony McCabe says in the documentary that the vape sensor in restrooms at his school “went off 112 times” in one day.

The alarm was installed at St Joseph's High School in Horwich, Bolton, after several incidents where students were found vaping THC liquid containing Spice.

He says: “There was a young person who passed out in a toilet cubicle. They didn't respond and we had to call an ambulance.”

He adds: “My honest thoughts that night were that the child was very close to death.”

Tony continues: “The number of e-cigarettes in the local community that actually contain THC is alarming.

“If we remain silent about it, we are guilty of allowing sleepwalking youth into a major epidemic.”

Lured by 'giveaways'

Less obvious than smoking cannabis, THC vapes can be easily purchased on social media sites such as Snapchatwhere young people are lured by special offers.

One user says in the film that he buys his through messaging platform Telegram, where he says there are lots of “giveaways and competitions.”

Former dealer Ricky reveals he was 15 when he started selling, buying products that claimed to contain THC but actually contained the much cheaper drug Spice.

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Until 2016, Spice was a legal high, now it's a class B drug, but it's been branded worse than Class A drugs like heroin.

Ricky says, “I was 15 when I realized I could buy THC vape liquid really cheap and sell it for an insane price.

“I was able to make a lot of money. It was mostly word of mouth. We had a Snapchat that was quite successful. Two thousand views on a good day. It almost felt entrepreneurial.

“And everyone wanted them. At that age, people don't want to have weed in case they get pulled over. You can use it at school whenever you want. Playgrounds, different classes.”

When asked what was in it, he said, “It was Spice in these THC vapes. The actual THC is very expensive, so it wouldn't be anything else.”

Ben's father kept a photo diary of the two weeks he was in hospital as a 'warning' for his son.

The young person still has panic attacks from the event and sees a counselor, but considers himself lucky to be alive.

Britain's drug map is available on BBC iPlayer

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