Belgian drug chief warns illegal vapes could hook children on 'spice'

Concerns have long been expressed about vapes making teens more susceptible to nicotine addiction. However, Belgium’s first-ever drug commissioner, Ine Van Wymersch, has warned that there is a much darker side to the use of e-cigarettes among youngsters.

She told Euronews that children could get "hooked" on the hidden synthetic cannabinoids found in illegal vapes. More commonly known by its street name "spice", this mind-altering chemical is designed to mimic the effects of THC or Tetrahydrocannabinol, the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis,

"I'm very concerned about illegal vapes," Van Wymersch said in Euronews' flagship interview programme 12 Minutes With.

"Of all the illegal refill capsules for vapes which we have seized [in Belgium], more than 80% contain synthetic cannabinoids, and they don't have a specific smell or colour."

Asked about the health risk of vape refills being laced with drugs, Van Wymersch said this could result in children being addicted to drugs from a very young age. “There is a risk that their brain will not develop the way it should.

“These are serious health risks, and we need to protect them from that by taking measures against all these logistic chain issues that are abused."

Ban on flavours

The drug commissioner, who stepped into her role in February 2023, noted that criminal organisations are abusing the fact that these products are sold with fruit and candy flavours. Critics of the vaping industry argue that, with these characteristics, the products clearly target children.

For this reason, Belgian Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke wants to put a complete ban on flavours on the government negotiating table.

If the plan is approved, Belgium would have one of the strictest regulations in Europe. It is unclear when a decision can be expected on the matter.

“I'm very happy that our Health Minister took the steps towards banning these flavours soon because criminal organisations are taking advantage of that to introduce drugs to very young children,” Van Wymersch said.

“So we really have to be aware that everything can be abused by criminal organisations.”

Another major concern regarding this age group is the recruitment of teens, especially vulnerable youngsters and minor unaccompanied asylum seekers, by criminal organisations.

Similar situations have been reported in the French coastal city of Marseille, another city grappling with drug crime. Criminal organisations lure these young people with the promise of a life of luxury.

“In Brussels, a lot of children, youngsters, complain that they don't find a student job, that they don't find a place for a traineeship,” Van Wymersch said. “I really think we have to offer them chances to get a degree in school because if we don't do this, criminal organisations will offer them a criminal career.”

Narco-state

She argued that, in a similar vein, steps must be taken to stop criminal organisations from corrupting authorities, including port workers, police and lawyers, with the lure of wealth.

Earlier this year, an investigating judge from Antwerp said that Belgium is at risk of becoming a narco-state, pointing to such infiltration. Recent court investigations highlighted that Belgium's legal world, including the judicial system and police, was corrupted by organised crime.

“We are not a narco-state, but we really have to undertake action to prevent that we become a narco-state,” Van Wymersch said.

“Europol pointed out recently that corruption is a main concern. There is a lot of money involved in this criminal world, and it's with this money that criminals are convincing people to work with them.

“When we don't tackle the business model, then we are having a serious risk of moving towards becoming a narco-state,” she concluded.