A BBC investigation has revealed that children as young as 13 are purchasing vape liquids on Snapchat, often unaware that these products are tainted with the dangerous synthetic drug known as spice.

In the course of the investigation, our reporter, pretending to be a schoolgirl, successfully purchased four bottles from a dealer via the social media platform, which were subsequently found to contain the so-called “zombie drug.”

Teenagers have reported experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms after using these vapes, and one concerned parent expressed her fear of discovering her daughter unresponsive in her bed.

A representative from Snapchat stated that the platform prohibits the buying and selling of vapes and illicit drugs, and actively works to deactivate the accounts of dealers.

Recent research from the University of Bath has highlighted an increasing menace to youth, indicating that many are unknowingly consuming spice. In one location, over 25% of confiscated vapes from schoolchildren tested positive for the harmful substance.

In the UK, it is illegal for individuals under the age of 18 to vape; however, 15-year-old Ella began using vapes when she was just 12. After a few months of using conventional vapes, she transitioned to products she believed were infused with THC, the primary psychoactive component of cannabis.

Ella detailed how she and her 14-year-old friend Sophie became dependent on these substances, sourced from a dealer who promoted them on Snapchat for prices starting at £10 per bottle, or three for £20. Sophie recounted, “A girl at school handed me something and urged me to try it. I liked the high, so I kept getting more.”

The BBC interviewed both girls and their mothers—who were given pseudonyms—at Ella’s home located in a newly developed area of Warwickshire.

“We would use our money to buy [the drugs], but mostly we had others doing it for us,” she added.

The vapes were sold in liquid form in small vials, which could then be transferred into refillable devices purchased at retail stores. However, subsequent testing indicated that the vape liquids contained spice.

Both Ella’s and Sophie’s mothers, Sarah and Dawn, expressed growing concern for their daughters as they exhibited increasingly erratic behaviors. Sarah noted that Ella returned home displaying intense mood swings, sometimes irritable, other times excessively emotional.

“She withdrew from our family activities and preferred to spend time alone in her room,” Sarah remarked.

Dawn observed that Sophie began sneaking out during the night, and she quickly recognized a change in her demeanor upon returning home.

“She struggled to communicate; her walking seemed off, and eventually it got so bad that she would just collapse onto the sofa when she came in.”

Throughout the summer of 2024, both girls went missing for extended periods, with one incident lasting 36 hours before they were located. Dawn did her utmost to keep Sophie home, but without access to the vapes, Sophie began suffering from horrifying withdrawal symptoms.

Sophie described feelings of nausea, chills, and trembles. “Sometimes my heart would slow down, then speed up. I would just fall asleep, and my stomach constantly hurt, making it impossible to eat.”

Dawn reported that this ordeal continued for over a week, during which Sophie was so violently ill that it deterred her from using vapes altogether.

Sarah mentioned that a night spent in the hospital served as a critical turning point for Ella.

“I told her straight up, ‘I don’t want to wake up and find you gone—either by your own doing or your sister or brother finding you’,” she said.

The mothers had the girls’ vapes analyzed by Wedinos, the UK’s only national drug-checking service for the public. As they suspected, two samples tested positive for spice.

Professor Rick Lines, the leader of the Substance Misuse Programme at Public Health Wales, part of Wedinos, stated that around 40% of over 300 vape samples analyzed last year contained spice.

“We are genuinely concerned that individuals might consume much stronger or more hazardous substances than they anticipate from a cannabis-derived product,” he added.

Dawn was disheartened but not surprised by the findings, feeling angered that her daughter was a target.

“This is hazardous for everyone, especially children,” she asserted. “Those profiting from this are despicable and deserve harsh punishment.”

Our undercover reporter contacted Sophie and Ella’s dealer via Snapchat, posing as a potential buyer seeking THC. The dealer responded almost immediately, providing a menu of various flavored vape liquids and offering same-day cash delivery across Warwickshire and Birmingham.

The reporter purchased four bottles for £50, all of which were later confirmed to contain spice.

Ella’s and Sophie’s experiences align with findings from the University of Bath, which revealed that drug-laced vapes are widespread in schools and can be accessed through advertisements on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, with spice frequently disguised as THC.

Professor Chris Pudney expressed astonishment at the blatant sale of these substances on social media, highlighting their availability, particularly on platforms frequented by youths.

His research team examined vaping trends in secondary schools across seven police jurisdictions in England over the past two academic years, including areas like Lancashire, London, and Greater Manchester. From a total of 1,923 vapes and liquids confiscated by educators and forwarded to law enforcement, on average, 13% from each location contained spice. In Lancashire, this figure rose to 27%, found in 58 out of 215 samples.

Researchers assert that these online platforms are failing to fulfill their legal responsibilities under the Online Safety Act 2023 to safeguard users, especially minors.

Responding to allegations, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook reiterated their commitment to disabling dealer accounts, filtering drug-related search queries, and cooperating with law enforcement.

A Snapchat representative announced that in 2024 alone, over 2.4 million drug-related posts were removed, and 516,000 accounts associated with these activities were disabled.

Sarah reported her concerns to Warwickshire Police a year ago while Ella was still engaged in vaping. She received a response indicating an ongoing investigation, but was left disheartened.

“I felt helpless because the drugs kept circulating,” she said. “There’s such a vast network of dealers supplying children; it feels impossible to apprehend them.”

Warwickshire Police Superintendent Helen Waite confirmed ongoing local reports of THC or spice-laced vapes being sold to minors and noted that efforts to collect evidence in collaboration with partners were underway.

Both girls have stopped vaping illegal drugs. Ella recognized her desire for change, stating that spice had negatively affected her weight and self-esteem. “It’s not a good thing; it creates an overpowering addiction, and you feel like you’re physically deteriorating.”

For information and support regarding addiction, resources are accessible through the BBC Action Line.