According to the Youth19 survey published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health in December last year, 80% of underage e-cigarette users and nearly 50% of regular e-cigarette users had never smoked before starting to use e-cigarettes.
Since 2017, the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ (ARFNZ) has been discussing the issue of teenagers vaping," said ARFNZ CEO Letitia Harding. "The Youth19 study provides further evidence that this is a problem. While e-cigarettes can be a useful tool for smokers trying to quit when combined with behavioral support, many children and young people are starting to use e-cigarettes without ever having smoked. E-cigarettes are not harmless and are easily addictive. There is now a body of research showing that nicotine has negative effects on adolescent brain development.
However, a survey conducted by the Ministry of Health in December emphasized that the increase in electronic cigarette use has led to a decrease in smoking rates, which is a more positive situation than before. The smoking rate decreased from 11.9% in 2019-2020 to 9.4% in the survey conducted in 2021.
The smoking rate among Māori students has decreased by 40%. What is even more significant is that all ethnic groups of students have shown a decline in smoking rates, with Māori students leading with a 40% decrease. Given that smoking has been a major issue for Māori people, this figure is particularly important.
ASH director Deborah Hart added that these findings, along with recent results, indicate that teenagers have achieved the 2025 smoke-free goal of a daily smoking rate below 5%. "We are pleased with this result because smoking kills 5,000 New Zealanders every year," she said.
She added that another study revealed similar data. "The survey results are consistent with the trend of young people shown in the 2021 New Zealand Health Survey. This is the biggest decrease in teenage smoking rates in a decade, and seeing young people leading New Zealand towards a smoke-free future is very encouraging," Hart said.
Disclaimer
This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.
Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.
The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.
This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.
Copyright Notice
This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.
No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.
For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.
AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice
Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.
Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.
