Barrow girl turns life around after using vape laced with spice

Cumbria Addictions: Advice and Solutions (CADAS), who helped the young girl, is urging parents to learn about the risks that are associated with vaping.

The girl, referred to as 'A', was left anxious after the 'very bad' experience.

Spice, one of the names used to describe synthetic cannabinoids, can be found in 'zombie vapes,' named due to the severe adverse effects on the user.

According to the NHS, those who use spice can suffer side effects such as extreme anxiety, paranoia, suicidal thoughts, psychosis, chest pain, and the inability to move.

A, who described feeling like she 'didn't have anyone on her side,' was not attending school regularly, getting along with other pupils, or having a good time at home.

Her parents reached out to her school for help, leading to A being referred to CADAS.

CADAS can provide support to those who need it (Image: CADAS) A was described as being 'very nervous' when she first met with a worker from the charity's Young Person service.

A was worried about her health due to vaping and not eating properly, was suffering with anxiety and panic attacks since the spiking incident, and had experienced threatening behaviour from pupils at her school.

The school was also concerned about A's attendance and vaping, making her at risk of expulsion.

A set several goals for herself, including reducing and eventually quitting vaping, and addressing the problem of buying vapes from strangers.

A used a quit-vaping planner to start a conversation with her mum, asking for support in reducing her vaping and sharing her struggles.

To improve her school attendance, the CADAS worker and the pastoral lead worked together to ensure A felt safe, and a safety plan was put in place.

After a 'tough week' at both school and home, A bought her first vape in weeks.

She said she felt 'disappointed,' but together with the CADAS worker she went over her reasons for wanting to quit and the 'roadblocks' she had set in place to help herself.

Read more: What is the drug, 'spice', and what are the side effects?

These included managing her stress with breathing exercises and her nicotine cravings with sucking mints.

The school allowed A to take time out when needed and to have mints in school - something deemed to be 'highly successful' when it came to A's reduction in vaping.

A continued to attend school regularly, maintained her school place, and improved her attendance and she seemed to 'grow in confidence week by week.'

She said she looked forward to her sessions with the CADAS worker, as she 'finally had someone on her side.'

A managed to reduce her vaping usage from using a 4,000 puff vape to quitting vaping over the course of her 11 sessions.

READ MORE: Council cracking down on underage vaping and illegal vapes

CADAS has been working closely with young people in the county to raise awareness about the risks associated with vaping and addiction.

This has included heading into Cumbrian schools to run sessions which are shaped by the pupils’ own learning needs.

The sessions’ introduction provides clarity to young people on the meaning of addiction, the causes of addiction, and how to seek support and guidance.

Jen Marrs, the Young People's Worker and Recovery Coach for CADAS, said: "I have been working with CADAS for 23 years and I have seen many different drug trends over this time.

"As we know the world is ever changing and so are trends on addictive behaviours.

"From this we have a duty of care to keep our young people educated around these subjects.

"We have been busy creating new resources around Addiction, Smoking and Vaping, and Gambling and Gaming awareness.

"Through these awareness sessions young people are provided with a bank of resources which enables them to make their own informed lifestyle choices.

"From working in schools, colleges and youth groups we have been able to form healthy professional relationships with all young people.”

READ MORE: Survey reveals vaping rates in young people in 2024

Activities during the sessions include a presentation, a vaping quiz, a word association task, and a Big Body Exercise, in which children draw around a body and are asked which parts they think are affected by vaping.

The outcome of the Big Body Exercise during sessions held by CADAS (Image: CADAS) Ms Marrs said: "We would really like to reach out to parents and carers and for them to become more aware of the associated risks around vaping.

"We have been successful with parent mail drops within schools and feel as though we can do more within the local community.

"If you have any suggestions we are happy to meet up with you."

If you would like support or more information, you can contact the free CADAS Helpline on 0800 254 5658 between Monday to Friday from 11am-5pm, and on Wednesdays from 11am-7pm.

For immediate support, contact Talk to Frank via text at 82111, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.