Government Aims for Minor Sales Ban Before Summer Holidays
A Polish parliamentary health committee has unanimously supported a government bill prohibiting the sale of all types of e-cigarettes to individuals under 18 years old. This move aims to quickly implement stricter youth access controls, potentially before the summer holidays.
Read moreRussian Republic Aligns Local Law with Federal Ban on Selling Smoking Mixtures to Minors
The Republic of Buryatia in Russia has strengthened its regulations against youth vaping, aligning local laws with federal standards to prohibit the retail sale of all types of smoking products – including tobacco-free and nicotine-free mixtures – to minors. This legislative move comes amidst growing public and official alarm over the prevalence and perceived dangers of vaping among schoolchildren.
Read moreResearchers Urge Awareness and Regulation Amid Surging Popularity Fueled by Social Media
The use of oral nicotine pouches – small, discreet packets placed between the gum and lip – has seen a dramatic and concerning surge among U.S. high school students, nearly doubling between 2023 and 2024. This finding comes from a significant new study led by researchers at the University of Southern California (USC), published in JAMA Network Open, raising alarms among public health officials about a rapidly growing trend among adolescents.
Read moreUC San Diego Research Projects National Smoking Prevalence Below 5% by 2035
A new study from the University of California San Diego reveals a significant and accelerating decline in cigarette smoking across the United States, driven primarily by young adults. The research, published in JAMA Network Open on April 25, 2025, offers optimistic projections for the future of smoking prevalence but also highlights persistent challenges among older smokers.
Read moreIllinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has announced a significant step in combating youth nicotine addiction by allocating $24 million from the $462 million Juul Labs settlement to the Truth Initiative. This nonprofit organization specializes in preventing youth nicotine usage and providing resources for quitting.
Read moreThe Alabama House of Representatives has passed a bill to reinforce the state’s existing law prohibiting the sale of vape products to individuals under 21. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Barbara Drummond (D-Mobile), aims to address the lack of funding for enforcement and the presence of unsafe products in the market.
Read moreA recent study co-authored by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has revealed a remarkable decline in e-cigarette use among American youth, with the number of middle and high school students currently using e-cigarettes falling to its lowest level in a decade. The study, published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal “American Journal of Preventive Medicine,” found that the FDA’s youth e-cigarette prevention campaign, “The Real Cost,” played a significant role in this reduction.
Read moreA recent study conducted by Kent County Council has shed light on the growing problem of nicotine addiction among young people in the county due to vaping. The survey, which included 5,493 pupils from 33 schools across Kent, found that approximately 10% (562) of the participants are current vapers.
The study’s findings, presented to the council’s Health Reform and Public Health cabinet committee on March 11, 2025, highlight the increasing concern about the health impacts of vaping on young, developing bodies.
According to Jason Hickson from KCC’s Kent Analytics team, the study aimed to gather data from a large, diverse sample of students across the county and from all age groups. He noted that vaping was perceived as a socially acceptable activity, unlike smoking.
The survey revealed that one-third of regular vapers felt the need to vape every hour, suggesting a high level of addiction. Furthermore, 27% of vapers either believe they are addicted or know they are addicted.
Corner shops (49%) and vaping outlets (36%) were the primary sources for obtaining vaping products, with fruit flavors being the most popular among respondents (over 75%). TikTok was cited by 52% of the sample as the social media platform promoting vaping products.
When asked about their reasons for vaping, 45% of respondents said it helps them “chill out and relax,” while 39% claimed it reduces their anxiety. Alarmingly, over half of the current vapers expressed no desire to quit.
Public health officials acknowledge that while vaping can help smokers quit tobacco, the products still contain nicotine, which is considered addictive. Short-term side effects of vaping include coughing, dizziness, sore throats, and headaches. However, there is significant concern about the impact of nicotine on young people whose bodies are still developing.
The study’s findings have prompted a ban on the sale of one-use disposable vapes, set to take effect in June 2025. A follow-up survey will be conducted in 2026 to compare the statistics after the ban’s implementation.
Dr. Julian Spinks, a Rochester GP, emphasized that much remains unknown about the long-term effects of vape ingredients, such as moisture and glycerol, on young people. He noted that some vapes contain higher nicotine levels than cigarettes and expressed concern about the potential for nicotine addiction and greater side effects in young, growing bodies.
Committee members echoed these concerns, with Cllr Tony Hills stating, “We don’t know how dangerous they are. I think we need to flag up concerns about vapes. They could be harmless, but they could also contain chemicals we don’t understand or know about.”
Dr. Anjan Ghosh, KCC Director of Public Health, highlighted the emerging issue of nicotine pouches, which are placed under the upper lip, as the next frontier in the battle against nicotine addiction. He remarked, “We semi-won the battle against smoking, and then you have vaping coming in as the next frontier, and then there is yet another frontier coming in in the form of nicotine pouches.”
Croatia ranks among the worst countries in the European Union for smoking prevalence, with almost 38% of adults smoking cigarettes and 44% of students having consumed e-cigarettes, according to research presented by the Croatian Institute of Public Health (HZJZ) on Croatian No-Smoking Day.
Read moreIn recent years, the use of vaping products among Canadian teenagers has become a growing concern for public health officials, parents, and advocates. To better understand the scope of this issue, let’s take a closer look at the latest data from the Canadian Substance Use Survey and explore the ongoing efforts to curb youth vaping through flavor regulations.
Read more