Researchers have raised concerns about the danger that vaping among young people could lead to smoking, which is far more harmful, after studies showed a consistent link between e-cigarette and later cigarette use.
A review of 56 academic studies was carried out by the University of York and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and published in the journal, Tobacco Control. The researchers say more research is needed to determine if there is a direct cause and effect between vaping and smoking.
However, they argue that the consistency of the findings so far provided a strong case for precautionary policies, such as restricting youth access to e-cigarettes and strengthening public education efforts. The UK’s Tobacco and Vapes Bill, that will introduce restrictions, is currently still going through Parliament.
Su Golder, Associate Professor in Health Science at the University of York, said: “Our previous reviews have shown that commonly used marketing strategies for e-cigarettes on social media networks resulted in more young people vaping, and this new review looks at what happens when vaping is a regular practice.
“The consistency in the evidence is striking. Across multiple studies, young people who use e-cigarettes are more likely to smoke in the future. These findings support stronger public health measures to protect teens from the risks associated with vaping.”
Health impacts on young people caused by vaping
As well as suggesting a link between vaping and smoking, this study of research undertaken across countries in Europe, America, Asia and the Middle East, highlighted potential links with the use of e-cigarettes and a range of health issues, including asthma, mental health concerns, oral health concerns and drug taking. The academics are also calling for more study of nicotine’s effects on the adolescent brain.
Meanwhile the public health charity ASH highlighted research by Cancer Research UK that showed online content advertising or marketing vapes is reaching young people. In a survey of more than 4,000 young people aged 11 to 21, it was almost 1 in 3 saw vape-related content from businesses, and nearly 4 in 10 from influencers and it was common among those who had already vaped. Many of these posts failed to carry even the mandatory nicotine warning ASH said.
Flouting of the disposable vape ban discovered
Over the summer there have also been concerns that some retailers have been flouting the disposable vape ban and some members of the public are still unaware of the new law.
Retail industry publication, The Grocer, published the results of a survey earlier this month that found that while 62% of respondents knew about the disposable vapes ban, 9% were unaware and 29% wrongly believed that shops could still sell their old supply of stock. The survey was carried out by Find Out Now and exclusively polled customers who had bought a disposable vape since the beginning of March.
Earlier in the month, The Grocer reported that 16% of convenience shops in the UK were still offering single use vapes, despite the disposable vapes ban coming into force in June. Sales data from convenience and independent shops across the UK revealed that nearly £400,000 worth of disposable devices were sold in a single week since the ban.
Tackling vaping by young people in schools
With continuing concerns about the prevalence of vaping among young people and the dangers it poses to them we offer schools and colleges the HALO Smart Sensor which can support them to tackle vaping among their students.
Our customers, such as St Joseph’s Roman Catholic High School in Bolton and Baxter College in Kidderminster, have chosen to take action after pupils have disrupted lessons by needing to leave to vape in school toilets, and when students have become unwell from vaping. If you want to find out more about how this device could help to curb vaping among young people, please get in touch.