UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – A study finds youth vaping triples smoking risk and links it to cannabis, alcohol abuse, and mental health harms, urging tougher industry restrictions.
As reported by The Telegraph, research shows childhood vaping can act as a gateway to cannabis use and cigarette smoking.
What did research show about childhood vaping and smoking risk?
Researchers report strong evidence that children who vape face a threefold risk of taking up smoking.
The review highlighted associations between vaping, substance abuse such as alcohol and cannabis, and increased risks of asthma and psychological issues.
Experts at the University of York and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine conducted an umbrella review on youth vaping, analysing 56 reviews covering 384 studies.
The study revealed that 21 reviews examined how e-cigarette use among young people was linked to later smoking habits.
Findings report that young vapers are more likely to smoke frequently and intensely, putting them at higher risk of breathing problems.
The study also tied youth vaping to pneumonia, bronchitis, reduced sperm counts, dizziness, and a greater risk of headaches and migraines. It revealed that youth vaping was tied to increased suicidal ideation and mental health concerns.
The study appears to confirm warnings that vaping can act as a gateway to smoking. A 2017 University of Michigan study found teens who vaped were four times more likely to start using tobacco within a year.
What did Dr Rebecca Glover say about vaping’s global risks?
Dr Rebecca Glover, author of the study and assistant professor at LSHTM, stated,
“Vaping is having a detrimental impact on the health of young people globally, and vaping appears to be a gateway to other substances.”
Ms Glover added,
“Our study provides the strongest evidence to date that young people globally face a serious range of physical and psychological harms from vaping and are at higher risk of transitioning to smoking.”
What did authors say about e-cigarettes and smoking risk?
The authors said the figures
“consistently indicated a significant association between e-cigarette use and later cigarette smoking in young people.”
They warned that proving cause was difficult, but stressed that
“repeated strong associations in prospective cohort studies are consistent with a causal relationship.”
What did Dr Su Golder say about e-cigarette use?
Dr Su Golder, an associate professor in health science at the University of York, added,
“The consistency in the evidence is striking. Across multiple studies, young people who use e-cigarettes are more likely to smoke in the future.”
What did Dr Greg Hartwell warn about vaping and smoking?
Dr Greg Hartwell of LSHTM warned that the shift from e-cigarettes to smoking carries serious health risks linked to traditional tobacco.
He added,
“As the Government’s chief medical officer states, marketing vapes to children is always unacceptable, and our review shows exactly why further restrictions on the tobacco industry, who control the vaping market, are so important.”
What did Dr Stephen Burgess say about vaping risks?
Commenting on the findings, Dr Stephen Burgess of the University of Cambridge stressed that the review relied on observational studies.
He said, It
“can be said that vaping users are more likely to engage in certain behaviours, but whether vaping is truly a cause of these behaviours is beyond the scope of the data.”
Mr Burgess added,
“However, the associations demonstrated are both extensive in scope and strong in magnitude – it is clear that vaping users are at higher risk of many diseases than non-users.”
What did John Dunne say about vaping risks?
John Dunne, UK Vaping Industry Association director general, stated,
“We have seen a lot of research from the scientific community about vaping which does not stand up to scrutiny, and this latest study seems to fit the bill.”
He added,
“We need to stop demonising vaping because until the relative risks of cigarettes and vaping are understood by smokers then 220 people will needlessly die in the UK of smoking-related illnesses every day.”
What did the Health Department say about youth vaping?
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson stated,
“Our health advice is clear, while vapes are less harmful than smoking and can be an effective quit aid for smokers, children and non-smokers should never vape. The worrying rise in youth vaping requires attention – that’s why we commissioned this research, the largest comprehensive review of the health impacts of youth vaping to date.”
They added,
“We are taking decisive action through the landmark tobacco and vapes bill and single-use vape ban, which will put an end to the cycle of addiction and stop the next generation getting hooked on nicotine.”
How did the new bill aim to curb vape appeal?
A ban on disposable vapes came into effect in June, citing concerns over their growing popularity among young people.
Under the crackdown, single-use vapes are now prohibited from sale at all outlets, from corner shops to major supermarkets.
The government’s Tobacco and Vapes Bill will tighten flavour rules and advertising to curb vaping’s pull on young people.
Purpose of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill
The bill aims to create a smoke-free generation by banning tobacco sales to anyone born after 2009.
It also introduces new powers to tackle youth vaping with under-18 sales bans and strict rules on ads and flavours, and strengthens enforcement through retail licensing, fines, and extended smoking bans.