Children trying e-cigs doubles in just 4 years
THE number of children and young people experimenting with e- cigarettes has almost doubled in four years.
A Public Health England report found the number of 11- to 18-yearolds who have tried vaping has increased from 6.5 per cent in 2014 to 11.7 per cent last year.
But the report’s authors added that regular use of e- cigarettes among youngsters remained low at 3.8 per cent, up from 1.6 per cent in 2014.
E-cigarettes remain at the heart of PHE’s stop- smoking strategy, and officials repeatedly insist vaping is safe. But critics say its rising popularity among teenagers should be a cause for concern.
Professor Martin McKee, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said the longterm effects of e- cigarette use were largely unknown, with research suggesting the effects of nicotine could be particularly damaging for adolescent brains.
He said there was a growing consensus that the devices should be regarded with caution rather than promoted by public health officials. US health officials recently threatened to ban e-cigarettes.
Professor McKee said: ‘We have seen what is happening in the US, with an explosive growth in e-cigarette use among young people. So for PHE to be pushing them out to the general public and making them as easily available as possible does not seem like a good idea. It is further evidence that England is out of line with the rest of the world.’
For the PHE report, researchers at King’s College London looked at surveys relating to e-cigarette use. Of children and young people who were tobacco smokers, 15.8 per cent also used electronic cigarettes at least weekly, compared with 3.7 per cent of former tobacco smokers and 0.2 per cent of those who had never smoked.
When youngsters who had tried an e-cigarette were asked why, 57 per cent said they wanted to give it a go, while 16 per cent said they liked the flavours.
Professor John Newton, of PHE, said the number of teenagers who were regularly vaping was low, but added: ‘We will keep a close watch on young people’s vaping and smoking habits to ensure we stay on track to achieve our ambition of a smoke-free generation.’
Ann McNeill, a professor of tobacco addiction and author of the report, said: ‘Regular vaping among young people in Britain who have never smoked remains low. However, we need to stay vigilant.’