Children who vape are three times more likely to go on to be smokers, according to new analysis which linked youth vaping to a series of health issues.
Vapers were not only more likely to smoke later in life, but they were also more likely to smoke more frequently and intensely, according to experts from the University of York and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).
The researchers analysed 56 reviews on 384 studies on youth vaping in an umbrella review, with some 21 of these reviews looking at the use of e-cigarettes in young people and later cigarette smoking.
The largest global review on vaping in young people also discovered that there is an increased risk of respiratory illnesses, like asthma or asthma exacerbation, and substance abuse, including drinking and marijuana use.
The study also suggested there are links between youth vaping and pneumonia, bronchitis, lower total sperm counts, dizziness, headaches, and migraines.
A link between depression and suicidal thoughts among young vapers was also identified.
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Consistent evidence
The data available “consistently indicated a significant association between e-cigarette use and later cigarette smoking in young people”, the researchers wrote in the journal Tobacco Control.
The authors said it was difficult to “infer causality” from their review, but said the “repeated strong associations in prospective cohort studies are consistent with a causal relationship”.
“The consistency in the evidence is striking,” Dr Su Golder, associate professor in health science at the University of York, said.
“Across multiple studies, young people who use e-cigarettes are more likely to smoke in the future. These findings support stronger public health measures to protect teens from the risks associated with vaping.”
Dr Greg Hartwell, clinical assistant professor at LSHTM said the review showed “exactly why further restrictions on the tobacco industry […] are so important”.
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Ban on disposable vapes
The study was published after a ban on selling or supplying disposable vapes, both with or without nicotine, came into force across the UK in June.
The crackdown on the disposable devices, also known as single-use vapes, was introduced in the hopes of making vapes less accessible to children, as statistics show a growing popularity among those aged 11 to 15.
NHS figures from last year showed nearly a quarter of children in that age bracket had tried vaping, and nearly one in 10 did it frequently.
The ban applies both in shops and online for sales across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Reusable vapes can still be sold.
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Commenting on the study, Jamie Strachan, operations director at vape retailer VPZ, said vaping “should never be marketed to, sold to, or used by children and non-smokers”.
“VPZ supports strict regulation that prevents under-18s from obtaining vaping products,” he added.
Dr James Murphy, director of science and research at British American Tobacco (BAT), claimed there was “little evidence that vaping is a gateway to smoking”.
“Smart regulation that gives adults access to better alternatives, while enforcing high standards and preventing underage use, is vital to achieving the UK’s smoke-free goal,” he added.
