Urgent warning over vape spiking trend as expert shares five tips to stay safe

TRNSMT revelers have been warned to remain vigilant amid concerns about a disturbing new trend of ‘vape spiking’.

Big names such as Pulp, Kasabian, George Ezra and The 1975 will take the stage at Glasgow Green from 7th to 9th July.

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But festival-goers are urged to beware of strangers offering them a puff of electronic cigarettes.

Experts also advise against buying questionable e-cigarettes that may be contaminated with drugs like vaporized LSD or synthetic marijuana.

Similar to drink spiking, when substances are added to drinks without permission, vape spiking is intended to make a person feel more vulnerable or cause harm.

Victims are unlikely to immediately realize they’ve been spiked.

However, experts warn that symptoms of peak exposure manifest themselves very quickly.

The effects of vape spiking can vary depending on the substance used, dosage, and individual metabolism.

Symptoms also vary depending on a person’s height and weight.

The main symptoms to know and look out for are:

• unconsciousness
• loss of control
• Vomit
• nausea
• confusion
• visual problems
• feel tired
• loss of balance
• lowered inhibitions
• memory loss
• panic/anxiety

If you notice any of these symptoms and think someone has been vaccinated, get help right away.

5 expert tips to stay safe with festival vape tips

1. Don’t share your vape
While enjoying the music and sun at a festival, it can be easy to share your vapor with strangers who might be asking for a hit.

However, sharing could immediately make you susceptible to vape spikes.

Substances such as vaporized LSD are added to e-cigarettes, which can have serious health consequences.

In crowded areas like festivals, it’s difficult to take in everything that’s going on around you.

As such, it is always best to avoid sharing your vape to ensure it is safe and has not been tampered with.

2. Do not accept e-cigarettes from strangers offering them

Festivals bring thousands of people together to enjoy their favorite artists and in the midst of all this fun, some may offer you a puff on their vape or offer to try their flavor.

If this happens to you, be sure to decline the offer as it could be another method that exposes you to the dangers of vape spiking.

If you steal a vape from a stranger, you can never be sure what’s in it and if it’s safe to smoke.

Therefore, to avoid this health risk, it is recommended never to accept an e-cigarette vapor from strangers.

3. Make sure nobody tampers with your own vapor

At a busy, crowded event, it can be easy to become oblivious to your surroundings, especially when listening to your favorite music acts.

However, keeping track of where your vape is located can be crucial. You should take care to store your vape device the same way you would store your phone, bank card or other important personal items.

If you have a vape, store it somewhere, such as in a bag or pocket.

If you find it somewhere other than where it was originally stored, it’s always best not to smoke it again.

If you are going to a festival it is a really good idea to invest in a case to store your vape as it will help keep everything together and protect your device when not in use.

4. If you find a vape that you dropped or lost, don’t smoke it again

It’s easy to drop things or lose possessions at festivals if you’re not careful.

If you drop your vape and someone claims to have found it, be careful not to smoke it again as you cannot be sure if it has been tampered with.

Second, if you find it on the ground or somewhere else it shouldn’t be, don’t smoke it again as it could still have been tampered with in the time it took you to move it.

5. Buy e-cigarettes from reliable retailers

Some festival-goers may even offer to sell you e-cigarettes themselves at seemingly cheap prices.

This can be tempting if you want a vape, lost yours and forgot to bring it with you.

However, it is highly recommended not to buy e-cigarettes from a reliable, trusted retailer as these e-cigarettes could contain substances like vaporized LSD or synthetic marijuana that could endanger your health and put you at risk of e-cigarette spikes.

Regular retailers sell vape kits for around £5, so anything cheaper is questionable.

Dan Currey, director of a Vape and CBD shopadding, “Thousands of people will flock to festivals this summer and as vaping increases, many will take their vapes with them.”

“So it’s crucial to make sure everyone is paying careful attention to what they’re vaping and where they’re getting it from.”

“As a festival goer, using a case to store your device is a really good idea as it can protect your device when not in use.

“In addition, checking the packaging of an e-cigarette can be a good indicator of its legitimacy.

“E-cigarette packaging should have clearly printed nicotine warnings and an expiration date.

“Each vape should also have a serial number that you can check. If you’re not sure, you can search the number at MHRA to make sure it’s real or not. If the vape does not contain this information, it may be fake.”

“Being at a festival means it’s unlikely you can go to your local vape shop if you run out of vapes. Therefore, if you are using disposables or your usual e-cigarette kit, there is no harm in carrying an extra disposable or spare coil to avoid the temptation to buy e-cigarettes from strangers.”

If you think you or someone you know has been vaccinated, be sure to tell event staff or the police, stay with them and call for medical help if symptoms are severe or worsening.

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