The UK government is set to issue briefing packs on the dangers of vaping to teachers to help stem the rise in teenage vaping. As part of this, pupils aged 11 to 13 will be warned about the potential risks to their health and the addictiveness of nicotine. Recent research suggests that young people’s developing brains may be more sensitive to the effects of nicotine. As such, teachers will show short films to inform pupils about the risks of both nicotine and non-nicotine vapes, alongside notes for teachers to initiate conversations with pupils around the topic.
According to the 2022 YouGov Smokefree youth survey for Action on Smoking and Health, the percentage of children who vape more than once a week has risen from 1.3% in 2020 to 3.1% in 2022. Alongside concerns about brain development issues, specialists are warning that vaping might also be a gateway to other drugs. Some brands are even accused of being marketed towards children, which has prompted the government to encourage parents and older siblings not to buy vapes for underage kids as they contain no nutritional value.
The number of children who have tried vaping at least once has roughly doubled in the past nine years from 5.6% in 2014 to 11.6% this year. As a result, the government recognises the need to crack down on teenage vaping and is looking to introduce measures to lower the number of children who vape. It is also considering a levy on disposable vapes and is examining how to ensure that e-cigarettes are accessible for adults looking to stop smoking.
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