Almost half of young people used illegal THC vapes in the last year according to new report on emerging drug trends in Greater Manchester
Almost half of young people reported using THC vapes in 2023 – and there has been a significant increase in the use of ketamine and cocaine – according to a latest review of drug use across Greater Manchester.
The GM TRENDS report, which was commissioned by Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and led by researchers from Manchester Metropolitan University, has been published alongside Greater Manchester Police’s new Drugs Strategy.
GM TRENDS seeks to identify changing patterns of drug use across all ten Greater Manchester local authorities, with the latest trends covering research conducted in 2023.
The report found that almost half (48%) of young people reported using THC vapes – vapes that contain the main psychoactive component of cannabis - in the past year, with more than half (54%) saying they were ‘easier to buy’ and two-fifths (39%) stating they had ‘got stronger’.
But testing revealed that many vapes being sold as THC vapes contained synthetic cannabinoids – known as spice – and those that do contain THC varied significantly in their content, ranging from 18% to 90%.
The report also highlighted an increase in the use of ketamine at a younger age, including by high school-aged children, to self-medicate anxiety and trauma, moving it away from a drug associated with clubbing.
One in six (16%) young people reported using the drug in the past year, a significant increase from 6% last year, and its multifunctional use means young people are using it more regularly, causing long term health issues including bladder, kidney and liver damage.
Other highlights of the findings from the main report include an increase in use of powdered cocaine with one in six (17%) young people reported using the drug, a significant increase of 7% in the last year, with almost half (45%) of young people stated it’s easier to buy, two-fifths (40%) saying it had ‘got stronger’ with a high average purity reported at 64% per gram.
GM TRENDS provides the region with the most comprehensive local drug intelligence function in the country with the full report identifying key drug trends for 44 substances, alongside two in-depth trend focuses on ketamine and THC vapes highlighted by the initial stages of research.
These latest findings were revealed at an event at Manchester Met to launch Greater Manchester Police’s new Drug Strategy 2024-25, which contributes to the National 10-Year Drug Strategy From Harm to Hope.
The new drug strategy was launched by Mayor Andy Burnham, Deputy Mayor Kate Green, and Assistant Chief Constable Chris Sykes from Greater Manchester Police.
Working with partners and communities, the new strategy aims to reduce the supply and availability of illegal drugs, reduce the power and reach of organised crime groups, reduce the demand for illegal drugs, and reduce the social and health harms that arise from these activities.
Rob Ralphs, Professor of Criminology and Social Policy at Manchester Metropolitan University, said: “This year’s findings have highlighted the impact of recent changes to how young people consume nicotine with the shift from smoking tobacco to vaping now reflected in the way young people are choosing to use cannabis.
“Ketamine appears to be multi-functional, replacing alcohol and cannabis as a drug of choice to relax and providing the same function as prescription drugs in aiding sleep, self-medicating anxiety and trauma. It’s rapidly changing from a drug taken occasionally at weekends to more regular use. Consequently, services are beginning to see people presenting with ketamine-related bladder and kidney harms at a much younger age. We need to develop a whole system approach to address this.”
Kate Green, Deputy Mayor for Safer and Stronger Communities, said: “In Greater Manchester, we pride ourselves on the strong partnerships we have in place to tackle issues and support communities – and there is no better example of that than the work we commission the University to carry out through their drug testing facility and the GM TRENDS report. This work provides us with invaluable, on the ground insight to help inform and shape our work such as creating policies and intervention strategies.”
Assistant Chief Constable Chris Sykes of Greater Manchester Police said: “The research and information featured within the GM TRENDS report allow us to understand the ever-evolving drugs market, so we can devise targeted disruption and prevention plans that better support communities.
“We have launched the GM Drugs Strategy to build on the strong partnership work we already do, ensuring we can best respond to emerging threats and trends, support people and keep people safe.”
For the GM TRENDS report, researchers analysed existing data, conducted online surveys of 132 Greater Manchester professionals, 400 young people, alongside interviews with 85 key professional informants, and 21 young people who used THC vapes and 22 young people who used ketamine.
This was accompanied by the testing of 199 drug samples by the Manchester Drug Analysis and Knowledge Exchange (MANDRAKE), a drugs testing research project based at Manchester Met developed with Greater Manchester Police to test non-evidential drug samples, along with samples submitted by other external agencies.
Recommendations include the development of harm reduction messaging highlighting the wide range of purity and content of certain drugs including cannabis, cocaine powder, ecstasy pills, heroin, ketamine, MDMA, non-prescribed prescription drugs, and THC vapes.
In relation to the trend focus on ketamine, recommendations include the development of a clear tiered approach in response to young people’s use of the drug, the development of education, information and training for professionals, and strategies to focus on early intervention and awareness raising around ketamine induced health harms.
Following the trend focus on THC vapes, recommendations include the development of awareness and focussed messaging on the varying content of products sold as THC vapes, public health and media campaigns to target young people via social media, and developing vaping policies for education facilities and schools.
The full GM TRENDS report and the trend focus reports can be viewed on the GM TRENDS website.
