A 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.
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A 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 moreA new study on smoking behavior, published in the international journal Addiction on November 4, 2024, by researchers from the University Hospital Düsseldorf, reveals that e-cigarette use in Germany is on the rise, particularly among young people. The study also found that the number of people who smoke traditional cigarettes remains high.
Read moreThe Lone Star State takes aim at underage e-cigarette use with harsh penalties for students caught vaping on campus.
Read moreTyler Independent School District (ISD) implemented a new policy nearly a year ago to tackle the issue of vaping among students. The policy includes installing vape detectors and sending students to their Discipline Alternative Education Program (DAEP) if they sell, give, have, or use a vape within 300 feet of any school property on or off. The policy was implemented in response to the growing number of students using vapes and e-cigarettes, which pose serious health risks.
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