Experts say that electronic cigarettes are now a new way for teenagers to become addicted to nicotine, rather than a way for them to quit smoking. This statement was made following a recent study which showed that a large number of teenagers who had tried e-cigarettes had never smoked before.
According to news reports, researchers from the Irish TobaccoFree Research Institute have stated that the percentage of 16 and 17-year-old adolescents who have tried e-cigarettes rose from 23% in 2014 to 39% in 2019. 39% of the surveyed youth reported having tried e-cigarettes, which is higher than the 32% who have tried smoking. 68% of those who tried e-cigarettes reported never having tried smoking.
The main reasons that adolescents try electronic cigarettes are curiosity (66%) and seeing friends using them (29%), with only 3% of people stating that they use electronic cigarettes to quit smoking.
Researchers also stated that children whose parents smoke are 55% more likely to try electronic cigarettes.
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At the International Conference of the European Respiratory Society held in Barcelona, Spain, a new study was presented that also found a 51% higher likelihood of children attempting to smoke.
Professor Luke Clancy, director of the research institute, stated, "We have found an increase in the number of Irish youth using electronic cigarettes, which is a trend that is emerging in other parts of the world.
Some believe that e-cigarettes are a better choice than smoking, but our research suggests that this is not the case for teenagers who have not typically tried e-cigarettes before.
This indicates that for teenagers, vaping is a pathway to nicotine addiction rather than a means of quitting smoking," he said.
Professor Jonathan Grigg, Chair of the Tobacco Control Committee of the European Respiratory Society, expressed concern regarding these findings when commenting on the study.
These findings are shocking, not only for Irish teenagers but for families around the world," he said.
Earlier this year, another report by the Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) concluded that the proportion of children smoking e-cigarettes is on the rise, with many being influenced by social media sites such as TikTok.
Although it is illegal to sell e-cigarettes to children under the age of 18, the proportion of children aged 11 to 17 using e-cigarettes has increased from 4% in 2020 to 7% in 2022.
Also read: How is it legal to vape during Ramadan fasting?
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