In recent years, vaping has grown in popularity, especially among teenagers. Vaping is the act of inhaling nicotine in a vapor rather than smoke. This makes it an excellent tool for smokers who want to quit. However, the long-term health effects of vaping are still uncertain, and the risks associated with it are not well known. In the UK, the rising popularity of vaping among teenagers has raised concerns among health experts. One of the leading respiratory doctors in the country, Dr. Mike McKean, has warned that without urgent regulation, a generation of teenagers could end up with long-term addictions and lung damage. In this article, we will delve into the details of Dr. McKean’s warning and the state of vaping among teenagers in the UK.
The Rising Popularity of Vaping Among Teenagers
Dr. Mike McKean, who is the vice-president of policy for the Royal College of Paediatricians and Child Health, has raised the alarm about the growing popularity of vaping among teenagers. Despite being illegal before the age of 18, vaping has become an “epidemic” among teenagers in the UK. Dr. McKean estimates that if its rapid growth maintains the same trajectory, almost all children will vape within five years. This is a worrying trend that needs to be addressed urgently.
According to NHS figures for 2021, 9% of 11- to 15-year-old children in the UK used e-cigarettes, up from 6% in 2018. The figure rises to 18% for 15-year-olds. Meanwhile, 2022 figures for Scotland showed levels at 10% for 15- to 16-year-olds. Dr. McKean estimates that the prevalence could now be as high as 15%. This is a problem that the UK should take seriously.
The Dangers of Vaping Among Teenagers
Dr. McKean warns that vaping could lead to long-term addictions and lung damage among teenagers. He says that many children start vaping despite never having smoked before, meaning they are not using it as a tool to quit. Children as young as 9-10 are vaping, and there is anecdotal evidence that some children move on to cigarettes. This is a worrying trend that needs to be addressed urgently.
Vaping involves inhaling nicotine in a vapor rather than smoke, removing the two most harmful elements of smoking, burning tobacco, and producing tar or carbon monoxide. However, its long-term health effects remain uncertain since it is a recent phenomenon and has grown rapidly in popularity. Dr. McKean says it is “a concern” given what we know about the risks of tobacco smoke and environmental pollution, especially for lungs that are still growing and developing.
Regulating Vaping Among Teenagers
In recent months, there has been a clamor of calls from campaigners for tighter rules around the advertising and packaging of vapes. They argue that these should mirror tobacco, including plain packaging, health warnings, and behind the counter display, while enforcement should be toughened to crack down on shops selling to under-18s.
England’s chief medical officer, Chris Whitty, described the marketing of vapes as “utterly unacceptable” last month. The children’s commissioner, Rachel de Souza, has also expressed concern about the rise in child vaping. She says she has “real concerns” about the long-term impact this might have on children’s physical health. There is an urgent need to learn lessons from the past and ensure there is tighter regulation of the vaping industry as a whole.
Experts suggest that Wednesday’s spring budget could have been a prime moment to introduce tighter regulation and other measures to deter children, such as a tax. Disposable vapes which are most popular with children, should be targeted. Dr. McKean suggests that a ban on disposable vapes, which are most popular among children, should also be considered, not least for their environmental impact. However, he disagrees with the universal vaping bans of several other countries.
John Dunne, the director general of the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA), says that no one under the age of 18 should be using a vape device, and they welcome any credible research that can highlight the long-term health risks of vaping to minors. However, any future policy or regulation needs to concentrate on cutting sources of supply to minors and dealing with rogue operators, not wholesale bans on the likes of flavors and disposable vapes which play a significant role in helping adult smokers quit their habits through vaping.
The ideal situation is to ensure teenagers aren’t tempted to take up vaping in the first place while not deterring adults from using vapes to stop smoking. Research from King’s College London and Action on Smoking and Health found that removing branding from e-cigarettes could deter teenagers from buying them without reducing their appeal to adults. Their study of 2,469 11- to 18-year-olds and 12,026 adults found that teenagers were more likely to say their peers would have no interest in vapes when marketed in standardized white or green packaging, whereas adults said their interest was not reduced.
Conclusion
In conclusion, vaping is becoming a significant problem among teenagers in the UK. If its rapid growth maintains the same trajectory, almost all children will vape within five years. Dr. Mike McKean warns that without urgent regulation, a generation of teenagers could end up with long-term addictions and lung damage. It is vital to learn from past mistakes and ensure there is tighter regulation of the vaping industry as a whole. While vaping has benefits for adults as a smoking cessation tool, it should not be marketed to children. There is an urgent need to address this problem before it’s too late.
FAQs:
Is vaping illegal for teenagers in the UK?
Yes, vaping is illegal before the age of 18 in the UK.Why is vaping dangerous for teenagers?
Vaping could lead to long-term addictions and lung damage among teenagers. Children as young as 9-10 are vaping, and there is anecdotal evidence that some children move on to cigarettes.What are the long-term health effects of vaping?
The long-term health effects of vaping are still uncertain since it is a recent phenomenon and has grown rapidly in popularity.What can be done to regulate vaping among teenagers?
There is a clamor of calls from campaigners for tighter rules around the advertising and packaging of vapes. England’s chief medical officer, Chris Whitty, described the marketing of vapes as “utterly unacceptable” last month. Disposable vapes, which are most popular with children, should be targeted.What is the ideal situation regarding vaping among teenagers?
The ideal situation is to ensure teenagers aren’t tempted to take up vaping in the first place while not deterring adults from using vapes to stop smoking.