Teenage psychosis cases are rising sharply across parts of England, and one NHS psychiatrist points directly to spice-laced vapes as the likely cause.

Dr Hilary Reed works in the north of England. She treated one or two psychosis cases a year for most of her career. In 2025, that number jumped to ten. She spoke on Good Morning Britain and said the link to synthetic drug vapes is hard to dismiss.

“It does appear that there’s an association between vapes containing spice and psychotic illness,” she said. “We can’t definitely say this is causative but the evidence does suggest these vapes are a huge issue that definitely needs more research, because my concern here is are we seeing the beginning of what could be a nationwide increase in psychosis among young people.”

What Are Spice-Laced Vapes and Why Are They So Dangerous?

Spice is a synthetic drug made to mimic cannabis. These lab-made chemicals are unregulated, highly potent, and unpredictable. They cause severe physical and psychological harm. The nickname “zombie drug” reflects how the substance leaves users severely sedated and disoriented.

Drug dealers push spice into vape products they sell to teenagers as cannabis vapes. The motive is cost. Spice is far cheaper than cannabis, so dealers substitute it without buyers knowing. Teenagers often inhale it with no idea what they are actually consuming.

University of Bath research found that up to one in four vapes taken from schools now contain spice. That figure shows how fast spice-laced vapes have spread into everyday school life.

Spice in Schools: Headteachers Are Taking Action

Wales High School in Rotherham now uses vape sensors in its toilets. Headteacher Lisa McCall said vaping replaced cigarettes almost entirely among pupils. The school had to act.

“In the last couple of years we’ve seen vaping take off so much, cigarettes are no longer an issue and we had to keep up,” she said. “These teenagers can buy them so easily and many try to vape on school premises.”

The problem moved quickly from nuisance to crisis. Staff found students passing synthetic drug vapes to each other without knowing what was inside. One student needed hospital treatment. The school permanently excluded several pupils, a step McCall called extremely rare.

“We have had cases with students giving each other vapes where they don’t know what is in them but we suspect it has been spice,” she added.

A Growing Public Health Concern

The pace of this rise is what makes it alarming. Dr Reed’s psychosis cases grew fivefold within two years at a single NHS practice. If that pattern holds nationally, current data is almost certainly undercounting the true scale of harm.

Spice-laced vapes pose particular risks for young people. Adolescent brains are still developing, which makes them more vulnerable to potent psychoactive substances. Early-onset psychosis can affect mental health, education, and quality of life for years.

Teenagers consuming synthetic drug vapes rarely know what they are taking. No informed choice happens. They buy a product expecting one thing and receive something far more dangerous.

The Law and Government Response

Selling spice-laced vapes is illegal in the UK. It carries a prison sentence of up to 14 years. The government is backing Trading Standards and other enforcement agencies with £30 million to crack down on illegal vape sales to young people.

The government also confirmed a record £16.1 billion investment into NHS mental health services. Schools and colleges receive expanded support, with a sharper focus on early intervention.

Whether that response keeps pace with the spread of synthetic drug vapes is still unclear. What is clear is that young people are being harmed now, and the warning signs are already visible.

Parents, schools, and communities should talk openly with young people about the risks of vaping. Learning to recognise the early signs of psychosis and seeking help quickly can make a real difference.

Source: dbrecoveryresources