Eight pupils collapse after vaping Spice mis-sold as 'natural cannabis'
Eight schoolchildren have collapsed after unknowingly vaping the drug Spice, which was mis-sold as "natural cannabis".
The pupils were treated by medics after inhaling what they thought was THC vape liquid - the chemical that causes the 'high' in cannabis.
The incidents have prompted health advisors to issue a fresh warning about vaping products in Greater Manchester.
It comes after nine young people collapsed between February and June this year.
Greater Manchester Police are investigating.
What's been happening?
An ambulance was called to treat several pupils who'd 'vaped' at a school in Oldham in December.
Another youngster suffered a seizure at a school in the same town, also this month.
In November, a young person collapsed after being forced to vape in Rochdale.
Ambulance crews were called to another school in Oldham after several young people collapsed.
A similar incident unfolded at an educational facility in Bury where a group of pupils became 'heavily intoxicated'.
Three more pupils at a school in Bury required an ambulance for the same reason.
In these cases, the substance was mis-sold as 'THC vape', THC vape pens, THC oil or cannabis oil.
Laboratory testing showed that some of the vials contained the same chemical used to make Spice, while other vials contained no psychoactive substance at all.
The latest warning was issued on behalf of the Greater Manchester Drug Alerts Panel - which brings together police, NHS, local authorities and drug user support agencies.
A drugs use expert warned that "The effects of the drug for someone not used to taking spice are very dangerous, unpredictable, and may even be fatal."