Dutch survey: E-cigarettes containing synthetic cannabinoids are rampant in schools, endangering the health of minors

Key points:

The crux of the issue:

·Illegal THC e-cigarettes containing synthetic cannabinoids have been banned by the Dutch Opium Act since July 2025.

Serious danger:

·This has resulted in health issues for students, such as vomiting, fainting, hospitalization, as well as long-term loss of vitality, severe withdrawal symptoms, and mental confusion.

Distribution channels:

·Students mainly place orders with drug dealers through social media platforms such as Snapchat, and e-cigarettes can be delivered to the campus within half an hour. 

·Many students mistakenly believe they are purchasing "marijuana e-cigarettes" and are unaware that they are actually using synthetic drugs.

Various parties responded:

·Medical institutions have issued an official warning, stating that it has led to "serious health issues." 

·Addiction clinics report that the number of related cases in the Netherlands is increasing. 

·Politicians and experts are calling for immediate action to curb its spread among young students.

International background:

·Similar issues have long been present in the UK, with studies showing that one in six e-cigarettes on campus contain synthetic drugs of the same kind.

In a report by BNNVARA on September 11, 2025, it was revealed that THC e-cigarettes often contain synthetic drugs produced in illegal labs. Schools have reported serious accidents caused by THC e-cigarettes to the Dutch investigative program Zembla, including children vomiting, fainting, and even requiring hospitalization. Last week, Jellinek and the Amsterdam Municipal Health Service (GGD) issued a warning to those working with adolescents, as e-cigarettes may lead to "serious health problems.

Outgoing State Secretary for Prevention and Sports, Judith Tielen, expressed concerns about the rise of THC e-cigarettes. She stated, "We are talking about truly harmful illegal substances. In addition to the direct risks, this method of consumption could also act as a gateway to using other substances.

Pulmonologist Danielle Cohen and a group of doctors have been battling the proliferation of e-cigarettes among students for years. In response to Zembla's investigation, she said, "This is an extremely dangerous drug, primarily used by prisoners and homeless individuals. If it is now being found that 12-13 year old students are also using e-cigarettes, then we really need to sound the alarm. This situation needs to be addressed quickly.

Zembla obtained several e-cigarettes used by students, which were tested in a specialized laboratory for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Almost all e-cigarettes were found to contain synthetic cannabinoids. These substances have a stronger potency and greater risks compared to natural cannabis (such as marijuana joints), leading to anxiety, palpitations, and mental confusion. Since July 2025, synthetic cannabinoids and other synthetic designer drugs have been banned under the "Opium Act.

A study by Zembla has found that Dutch students are using or familiar with e-cigarettes containing THC. Students report ordering illegal e-cigarettes through social media platforms like Snapchat. Drug dealers are able to deliver the e-cigarettes to campuses within half an hour. Surprisingly, students often do not realize they are vaping synthetic drugs. They mistakenly believe they are using a "marijuana e-cigarette.

The three largest addiction treatment clinics in the Netherlands - Jellinek, Novadic-Kentron, and Brijder - appear to have received reports of health issues among young people due to the use of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) e-cigarettes. Youssef el Markhous, a prevention expert at Jellinek, stated that in recent months, such cases have increased: "This is a concerning development. Initially, we only received reports occasionally, but gradually, the reports have become more frequent and are coming from various regions. We have heard that young people have almost lost their vitality, are unable to move forward, cannot handle stimulation, and even faint. Sometimes very serious withdrawal symptoms also occur.

Last week, the Public Health Service of Yerevan and Amsterdam (GGD) sent out a warning email urging people to be cautious about the use of THC e-cigarettes among young people, as this could lead to "serious health issues." Trimbos Institute told Zembla that they have been conducting research on e-cigarettes with strong psychoactive effects, including THC e-cigarettes.

In the UK, THC e-cigarettes have long been a well-known issue among student populations. Christopher Pudney, from the University of Bath, decided to test e-cigarettes after hearing about children experiencing adverse effects from using them. In his testing of hundreds of e-cigarettes, he found that one-sixth of them contained this synthetic drug. Pudney said, "For such a harmful and highly addictive drug, this is a shocking result. We are realizing that these reports of children passing out at school are not isolated incidents.