The Alarming Trend of Teen e-cigarette Addiction in Norway

According to a report from Norwegian media outlet Archyde, Guro Birkeland, the secretary general of the Norwegian Asthma and Allergy Association (NAAF), stated:

In recent years, there has been a trend of using e-cigarettes that has been largely unnoticed by the majority of people. We are talking about middle school students who have become addicted to e-cigarettes starting from elementary school, to the point where they feel the need to sneak off to the bathroom to vape during class. It is remarkable that such incidents are happening in smoke-free Norway without anyone keeping track of it.

In Norway, the age limit for the sale and use of e-cigarettes is 18 years old, and the sale of e-cigarettes containing nicotine is also prohibited. In addition, as of July 1, Norway only allows the sale of tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes, not those with attractive flavors like candy. However, it is easy to purchase illegal e-cigarette products from foreign websites or overseas. The Health Authority points out that many young people are using e-cigarettes that are illegally imported from illicit manufacturers and resold through instant messaging apps like Snapchat and other "street vendors.

Bill Clark is particularly concerned about the harmful effects of nicotine. Nicotine is a poison, and certain e-cigarettes contain much more nicotine than traditional cigarettes, increasing the risk of addiction in a short period of time. Additionally, teenagers are more susceptible to addiction.

The earlier you are exposed to nicotine, the greater the risk of addiction. We are also concerned about the effects of e-cigarettes on the lungs of adolescents.

She said.

The Pulmonary Medicine Association previously pointed out that e-cigarettes contain various substances that may lead to increased coughing and phlegm, as well as an increased risk of bronchitis, asthma exacerbation, emphysema, respiratory tract irritation, and worsening allergy symptoms.

Bill Kran believes that many parents are not aware of this trend and do not know how nicotine can affect the brain development of children and adolescents. The brain does not fully mature until the mid-20s, and long-term use of nicotine can damage brain regions responsible for controlling attention, learning, and impulse control. This Monday, when NOVA releases the Ungdata report, new national data will reveal how many teenagers have tried or are using e-cigarettes. Some results from these local surveys are already known. For example, last year's Ungdata survey in Oslo showed that the proportion of teenagers who had tried e-cigarettes increased from 15% in 2021 to 31% in 2023. The proportion of teenagers who use e-cigarettes daily increased from 1% to 3%, while the proportion who occasionally use e-cigarettes increased from 2% to 14%.

In a recent article on Ungdata.no, NOVA researcher Rikke Tokle pointed out that...

It is currently premature to determine whether these data represent the peak of a trend or simply an initial trend.

She participated in an analysis of tobacco habits among teenagers, including smoking, chewing tobacco, and using e-cigarettes.

Linda Granlund, the director in charge at the Health Authority, stated in an email to NTB that they are very concerned about this development and are taking it seriously.

These data, combined with the industry's enthusiasm for developing new nicotine products targeted at teenagers, mean that we are closely monitoring this phenomenon. This trend is also consistent with that of other countries.

She said that the Department of Health is currently studying multiple measures to reduce youth usage, including legislation being considered to ban online sales. Additionally, there is a decision to standardize e-cigarettes, treating them similarly to tobacco products.

She added:

We conducted a public awareness campaign for teenagers from May to July, aimed at increasing awareness of e-cigarettes among teenagers, their parents, and other relevant adults. As part of the national tobacco strategy, the government's goal is to have a smoke-free and nicotine-free generation, and we are currently researching what additional measures can help achieve this goal.