Alarming Number of Users Now Vape, Warns Global Health Body
Over 100 million users, featuring at minimum 15 million youth, currently employ e-cigarettes, propelling a new wave of nicotine dependency, according to current worldwide public health data.
Minors are, on average, nine times more likely than grown-ups to vape, per available global data.
E-cigarettes are propelling a "recent wave" of nicotine addiction, commented a senior health expert. "They are marketed as harm reduction but, truthfully, are addicting youth on nicotine earlier and threaten weakening decades of advancement."
Teens Being 'Aimed At'
"Numerous of individuals are stopping, or not taking up tobacco consumption due to tobacco restriction initiatives by nations around the globe," the official said.
"In response to this significant advancement, the tobacco industry is resisting with novel nicotine products, aggressively focusing on youth. Governments must take action more rapidly and more vigorously in applying established tobacco-control policies," he added.
The e-cigarette numbers are an estimate since several states - 109 in all, and numerous in Africa and Southeast Asia - lack information.
Per the study, as of this past February this year, at least 86 million e-cigarette users were adults, primarily in wealthy states.
And at minimum 15 million adolescents aged 13 and 15 already engage in vaping, per surveys from 123 countries.
Even though several nations have tried to implement e-cigarette policies to tackle underage vaping in recent years, by the end of 2024, 62 countries yet had no regulation in operation, and 74 states had no age restriction at which e-cigarettes are allowed to be purchased, says the health authority.
At the same time, tobacco usage has been dropping - from an approximated 1.38 billion individuals in 2000 to 1.2 billion in 2024.
Frequency of tobacco use among females decreased the most - from 11% in 2010 to 6.6% in 2024.
For males, the reduction was from 41.4% in 2010 to 32.5% in 2024.
But a fifth of adults internationally yet employs tobacco.
Cigarette consumption is associated to many illnesses, including cancer.
Professionals state vaping is considerably less dangerous than cigarettes, and can aid you cease smoking. It is discouraged for individuals who avoid tobacco.
Vaping devices avoid burning tobacco and do not create tar or CO, a couple of the most damaging elements in tobacco smoke. They include nicotine, which might be dependency-creating.
