Vaping not linked to young using cigarettes

Boy, 4, drowns in activity centre pool

THERE is no evidence experimentation with e-cigarettes leads to teenagers taking up smoking tobacco, experts have said.

Rising popularity of the devices has led to heated debate in health circles, with some claiming vaping is a one-way street to taking up smoking.

But new analysis has found most e-cigarette experimentation among young people does not lead to regular use.

And levels of regular e-cigarette use in young people who have never smoked remain very low, according to the study.

Researchers examined data from five largescale surveys conducted between 2015 and 2017 involving more than 60,000 11 to 16-yearolds UK-wide.

Regular – at least weekly – use of e-cigarettes amongst all young people surveyed was three per cent or less, they found.

Among young people who have never smoked, regular use of e-cigarettes was between 0.1 and 0.5 per cent across the five surveys, they said. A FOUR-YEAR-OLD boy is believed to have drowned in a swimming pool at an activity centre during an event organised by Narcotics Anonymous.

He was reported missing at the Knapp House Activity Centre in Northam, Devon, at 2.55pm on Monday.

Devon and Cornwall Police said an “extensive search” took place. Paramedics were called at 3.30pm.

The boy was found in the pool on the site and taken to North Devon District Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said: “Officers are investigating the circumstances and the death is being treated as unexplained.”

South Western Ambulance Service said two rapid response vehicles and two ambulances attended the incident.

The boy was taking part in the sixth annual week-long summer holiday camp-out for members of Narcotics Anonymous and their families.