Updated: 12:16 EDT, 9 September 2022 Advertisement
According to official data, one in ten secondary school students in England use e-cigarettes. This shows the extent of the country’s vaping epidemic. Their steep rise in popularity has sparked warnings that the UK is slowly sleepwalking into a public health ‘catastrophe’.Leading experts today said they were ‘deeply disturbed’ by how desired the gadgets — which can cost as little as ?4 — have become, accusing manufacturers of preying on children with colourful packaging, fruity flavours and trendy names.Fresh calls for a clamp down on advertising rules have also been made, with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health demanding tough action to stop ‘generations of children’ becoming hooked on nicotine.NHS Digital, which quizzed nearly 10,000 students aged 11 to 15 on their smoking, drug and drinking habits last year, found that nine per cent currently vape — the highest rate logged since the survey began in 2014.Girls appear to be driving the trend, with the vape rate doubling among them in the last three years, while it has remained flat among boys for five years.As well as firms targeting children, experts have blamed the rise on social media, where videos showing off vape smoke tricks have racked up tens of millions of views. A Government-funded study this year found that nearly half of users had viewed vape videos on Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok. However, the percentage of people who smoke traditional cigarettes has declined. One in 33 students now smoke tobacco, compared with a peak of one-in-four in the 1990s. EVERYTHING NEED TO KNOW ABOUT VAPING What are e-cigarettes?E-cigarettes are devices that allow you to inhale nicotine in a vapour rather than smoke.They do not burn tobacco or produce tar or carbon monoxide — two of the most harmful parts of tobacco smoke.The devices work by heating liquid that contains nicotine and flavourings.They can come as vape pens — which are shaped like a pen or small tube with a tank to store e-liquid and batteries — or pod systems that are rechargeable and often shaped like USB sticks.Are they dangerous?E-cigarettes are not risk-free but are believed to cause less harm than smoking.However, its liquid and vapour contain harmful chemicals that are also found in traditional cigarettes, but it much lower levels. These chemicals have been linked to lung inflammation, chronic coughs, shortness of breath and lung disease.There have also been cases of e-cigarettes exploding or catching fire Can children buy them?A law came into force in 2011 which made it illegal to sell e-cigarettes to under-18s in the UK.However, there has been reports of children buying them directly from shops.What action do experts want?Campaigners have called for more funding to enforce the laws against underage sales, action on child-friendly packaging and labelling, as well as promotion on social media.And a Government-commissioned review published in June recommended a review of vape flavours to ensure they don’t appeal to young people. Javed Khan, a former chief of children’s charity, recommended that all cartoons and images related to vaping products be banned. Are there other countries that have taken similar action? The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned Juul’s products in June. However, it found that there was not enough evidence for Juul to cause harm to public health. In July, the FDA halted its decision while it conducts an additional review of the company’s products. The US regulator had already banned fruity flavours in e-cigarettes. !– ad at https://mads.dailymail.co.uk/v8/us/health/none/article/other/mpu_factbox.html/id=mpu_factbox_1
E-cigarettes are touted as a healthier option to smoking. They are more popular than Italian restaurants on High Streets in Britain. NHS Digital surveyed nearly 9,000 students in years 7-11 about their drug, alcohol, and smoking habits between September 2020 to July 2021. Results showed that 9% of girls and 7% of boys are currently e-cigarette users. The increase in boys since 2016 has been flat. The rate of vaping has remained flat among boys since 2016, while it has doubled in girls. One in five 15-year-old girls and one out seven boys vape, as compared to one-in-100 11-year-old boys and girls. However, the percentage of all students who have tried vaping has fallen from 25% in 2018 to 22% in 2021. A quarter of current vapers are regular or occasional smokers. Only 3 percent have never smoked. It is illegal to sell vapes under 18 years old. There have been reports that children are buying vapes from shops. Instagram and TikTok are flooded with people offering to sell them to children. Discreet postage and packaging, including hiding them in boxes of chocolates to throw parents off the scent, is routinely on offer.A Government-commissioned review published in June recommended a review of vape flavours to ensure they don’t appeal to young people.E-cigarettes available on the British market today offer sweet-tasting puffs of pink lemonade, bubblegum and cotton candy.The paper, by former children’s charity chief Javed Khan, also recommended that cartoons and images on vaping products be banned.Vaping websites have previously been caught advertising products next to a picture of sweets spilling out of a jar while five brightly coloured bottles presented under a banner reading ‘scrumdiddlyumptious’.Their cheap price has also been criticised, with popular Chinese-made Elf Bars and Geek Bars available for less than a fiver. They can be used right out of the box, and provide the nicotine equivalent to about 50 cigarettes. Official figures reveal that fewer young people in England have ever drank alcohol or used drugs. MailOnline was told by experts that the decline in alcohol use and drug use is likely due to the Covid lockdowns which made it harder for them to socialize and go to parties. According to experts, the decline in alcohol and drug use among young people in England is likely due to the Covid lockdowns that made it harder for them to socialize and go to parties. This is down from 9.5% in 2018. This is a decrease of 9.5 percent from 2018. This is down from 9.5% in 2018. Hamilton stated that students are more likely to succeed academically and don’t want drugs to compromise that. They are also aware of the potential impact that social media can have on their lives and future job prospects if they appear drunk or use drugs and alcohol. “Young people are more aware than ever about their mental health. They are more likely to seek help if they are experiencing difficulties psychologically. !– ad at https://mads.dailymail.co.uk/v8/us/health/none/article/other/mpu_factbox.html/id=mpu_factbox_2
Campaigners called for more funding to enforce laws against underage sales, child-friendly packaging, labelling, and promotion on social media. US regulators have already taken steps to restrict the sale of ecigarettes and banned mint-flavoured products. In a crackdown against companies with the largest share of the vape market, it also banned Juul from selling products in the country. It also banned menthol cigarettes in 2020, and pledged to make the country smoke-free by 2030. E-cigarette companies are targeting children and young people with bright packaging, exotic flavours, and attractive names. “Disposable electronic cigarettes are becoming more popular among children and young people. They can be easily accessed in news agents and sweet shops. There is a vape shop in almost every high street. These companies are only interested in making a profit and “hooking” young people. They have no concern for their health or wellbeing. The UK Government should introduce plain packaging for e-cigarettes, nicotine and non-nicotine vaping products. To ensure that vaping products are not advertised as a way to reduce smoking, but rather as a lifestyle product, stricter advertising restrictions are needed. We run the risk that generations of children will become addicted to nicotine if we don’t act quickly. MailOnline was told by an addiction expert from the University of York that young people are turning to ecigarettes because they feel safer than traditional cigarettes. Although e-cigarettes still contain nicotine and other potentially harmful flavourants, they are not as harmful to your health as tobacco. The devices were floated as a possible prescription product for people trying to quit smoking traditional cigarettes. However, e-cigarettes do not contain addictive nicotine and other potentially harmful flavourants and particles. It is still unknown what long-term effects this will have on young people as they grow up. The Covid pandemic had a significant effect on young people’s drug usage because they had fewer options to mix and party due to restrictions at the time. Professor Ann McNeill, a King’s College London tobacco addiction expert, stated that the rise in youth vaping was alarming and that we must understand why. Given the greater risk of smoking, our response must be proportionate. The Government should enforce existing laws and identify areas where regulations could be expanded. The NHS Digital report shows that pupils who smoke have dropped from 5% in 2018 to 3% in 2021, which is the lowest level since 1982 when the survey was started. The rate peaked in 1996 at 22 percent and has been declining since. Older students were more likely to smoke than their younger counterparts. One in 10 15 year-olds smokes (11% of girls and 7% of boys), while one in 5,000 11 years olds smokes (11% of girls and 7% of boys). Only 11% said they have ever smoked, which is another record. This number has been declining for decades, having fallen from a record high of 55% in 1984. The 2018 figure was 16 percent. Some 6 per cent of students said that they drink alcohol at least once per week. This is the same number as in the previous surveys.
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