Smoking is much more harmful than vaping. Tobacco smoke contains carbon monoxide and tar, a sticky soup of around 250 toxic chemicals, 69 of which are known to be carcinogenic, causing disease, disability, and early death. However, vapes are not harmless. Short-term effects can include:

• coughing

• headaches

• dizziness, and

• sore throats.

Long-term effects are, as yet, unknown.

Vapes with Additional Substances

THC can be preloaded into disposable vapes. THC can also be mixed with vape liquid and added to refillable vapes or mods.

Tests have also shown that THC vapes can contain other substances, such as synthetic cannabinoids (spice) and synthetic opioids like nitazenes, which carry a greater level of risk and can lead to increased risk of overdose and death.

Young people are coming into possession of Spice vapes as they think they’re smoking THC - the element in cannabis which produces the ‘high’ - and because the devices are labelled as ‘cannabis’ vapes. Spice is becoming increasingly common as it is much cheaper than other illicit substances and is easier to access.

Spice is a drug associated with organised crime. As well as the health risk to young people from encountering these strong drugs, it places them at risk of being groomed into serious drug dealing activities such as county lines.

The vape industry helps adult smokers kick the habit by providing them with the most effective stop smoking tool ever devised – to date, nearly 4.5 million Brits have moved away from deadly cigarettes through vaping.

However, some unscrupulous sellers are casting a negative light on the sector by providing vapes to under 18s.  Vapes and vaping products containing nicotine, like tobacco,  are age restricted. It’s illegal to sell  them to under 18s, and for adults to buy them on their behalf.

We are calling on consumers and the public to Be Vape Vigilant and put illicit sellers under the spotlight by reporting any suspected illegal activity to the relevant authorities.

IF YOU ARE AWARE OF ANY ILLICIT VAPE SALES PLEASE REPORT THEM AT: Be Vape Vigilant - UKVIA

Please see a video created with our Trading Standards team and Lancashire Constabulary.

Trading Standards find over 1000 illicit vapes, and much more... - YouTube