VAPOUROUND MAGAZINE - ISSUE 39 | Page 45

A major new survey has found that global rates of adolescent vaping are low despite continuing alarmist scare stories about youth vaping ‘ epidemics .’

Researchers from the University of Queensland ( Australia ) combed through World Health Organization data from more than 150,000 young people in 47 countries .
The WHO research was part of its huge Global Youth Tobacco Survey between 2015 and 2018 .
Anti-vaping campaigners regularly use WHO research to oppose adult smokers having access to e-cigarettes , especially flavoured e-liquids , on the grounds that they attract young people .
However , this new study which was published in the scientific journal Addiction , found that while nine percent of adolescents reported vaping in the past 30 days , only 1.7 percent were frequent vapers .
The Australian study team concluded that this suggested that most young people who vaped were experimenting but not forming a vaping habit .
Lead author Dr Gary Chan , from UQ ’ s National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research , said : “ Our study found the prevalence of vaping in low-and middle-income countries was low .
“ One in 12 adolescents reported vaping over a 30-day period , but only one in 60 vaped more than 10 days over the 30-day period .”
He said a combination of eye-catching packaging and the availability of nicotine-free products could help explain the study findings .
Dr Chan added : “ E-cigarettes are often sold in colourful packages with highly palatable flavours that appeal to adolescents , and this could lead to experimentation but not continued use .
“ While some e-cigarettes contain high levels of nicotine , adolescents can also vape non-nicotine or low nicotine e-cigarettes which are less addictive .”
The Australian team also found that higher tobacco taxes were associated with increased youth vaping rates .
Dr Chan added : “ This could suggest that young people in countries with a higher tobacco tax might be substituting traditional cigarettes with e-cigarettes .”
He previously recommended that social media platforms should be able to age-restrict content to protect young people .
He was speaking after another University of Queensland study found that TikTok exposed young people to videos that could ‘ reinforce a positive attitude towards vaping and e-cigarette usage .’
The academic added : “ Considering how accessible these videos are to young people and previous studies associating exposure to vaping-related content with increased e-cigarette use , age restrictions on social media platforms are recommended .”
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