Health alert in Flanders: dangerous synthetic substances in teenagers' vapes
A recent investigation conducted by journalists from the VRT program "Pano" revealed the presence of synthetic cannabinoids, commonly known as "spice," in vaping devices circulating among Flemish teenagers. Marketed as THC-based vapes, these products actually contain far more dangerous and highly addictive substances.
A worrying rise in vaping among young people
Secondary schools in Flanders are facing a notable upsurge in vaping, and this is happening at an increasingly young age. The survey polled 223 secondary schools in Flanders and Brussels: four out of five noted an increase in the practice. Alongside traditional devices, vapes presented as containing THC, sold illicitly, are proliferating. However, these products often mask synthetic drugs.
Dr. Thomas Orban, a general practitioner and addiction specialist, points out that the composition of these products is often misleading: under the guise of THC, consumers are actually inhaling artificial substances.
Spice, an extremely dangerous drug
According to journalists, traffickers present these liquids as an enhanced version of cannabis, boasting that they are undetectable in urine or saliva tests. However, synthetic cannabinoids are far more potent than natural cannabis, with an addictive potential comparable to that of heroin. Professor Chris Pudney of the University of Bath indicates that their potency can be up to fifty times that of natural THC.
Harmful consequences for developing brains
Thomas Orban insists that introducing psychotropic substances into a maturing brain—which doesn't fully mature until age 25—can cause irreversible damage. Immediate risks include faintness, chest pain, and strokes, while long-term effects include anxiety disorders, delusions, schizophrenia, multiple addictions, and academic failure.
Faced with these dangers, the doctor strongly recommends having suspicious substances analyzed by associations such as Modus Vivendi in Brussels or Dawa in Wallonia.
The necessary distinction between legal and illegal markets
VapeBel, the Belgian vaping federation, points out that legal and illegal products fall into two distinct channels. Regulated vapes are designed to help adults quit smoking, while illicit products, often without age restrictions, proliferate without regulation.
VapeBel is calling for stronger measures: collaboration with delivery services and payment providers to limit online sales, strict age verification of buyers, and the creation of a specific license for nicotine products.
Calls for increased political action
Following the broadcast of the "Pano" report, ten health sector organizations are calling on the authorities to introduce more restrictive measures to reduce young people's access to vaping. They deem the existing rules insufficient and call for their rigorous enforcement and prior impact assessments before any new regulations.
