A WARNING has been issued after at least nine teenagers were hospitalised after using vaping liquid containing the drug spice.

There have been six confirmed incidents of young people across Greater Manchester collapsing after using the liquid, which is being mis-sold as a natural cannabis-based "THC vape", and later collapsing.

Although none have suffered long-term health effects, experts warn that the effects of using spice are dangerous, unpredictable, and may even prove fatal.

Two different forms of the drug have been recovered - one came in a 10ml e-liquid bottle, while the other was a ready-filled e-cigarette cartridge.

The drugs have been sold as "THC vape juice", "THC vape pens", "THC oil", "cannabis oil" or "cannabis vape juice".

The incidents between February and June included:

- Rochdale, where three young people were taken to hospital

- Two instances involved school age children from the Oldham area. In one instance three young people were taken to hospital and in the second instance two young people were taken to hospital

- Bury, where a young person was taken to hospital

Tests conducted on samples used in two of the incidents confirmed that the drug added to the vaping liquid are the same chemical compounds found in spice.

The warning is being issued on behalf of the Greater Manchester Drug Alerts Panel, which brings together police, NHS, local authorities and drug user support agencies.

Dr Prun Bijral is a member of the panel and medical director of CGL, a national drug charity that supports young people in Greater Manchester.

He said: “Inhaling even a single vape of this type of drug in this way for a young person with no tolerance is highly likely to lead to negative physical and mental effects.

“Young people who buy this product thinking it will have an effect similar to natural cannabis are not only being ripped off, they are also putting themselves and their friends in real danger.”

Michael Linnell, a drugs use expert who coordinates the multi-agency Greater Manchester Drug Alerts Panel, added: “The risk of vaping ‘spice’ is far more dangerous than from a natural cannabis product.

“It is difficult for even experienced spice users to judge dosage and unintentionally administering a toxic dose is common. Severe poisoning is far more common with synthetic cannabinoids than with cannabis and in some cases, the poisoning may even be fatal.”

Greater Manchester Police are investigating but no arrests have been made at this time.

Anyone with information in relation to where these “THC vapes” are being created or stored is encouraged to contact GMP by reporting it via the LiveChat function on the GMP website or by calling 101, and always dial 999 in an emergency.