There has been a rapid rise of vaping in young people over recent years. Despite e-cigarettes being illegal for young people, it is still easy for young people to get a vape illegally at a shop or online.
The flavours (such as watermelon, grape, caramel, bubble-gum, vanilla and mint) and colourful packaging used for vapes make them appealing to young people. E-cigarettes also come in many shapes and sizes, including everyday items, making them easy to conceal. Many vapes contain nicotine, regardless of what the packaging says, which young people can become addicted to very quickly.
Nicotine is highly addictive for young brains and it can cause long-lasting negative effects on brain development. The impacts can include impaired attention, learning, memory, and changes in mood. Vapes can leave a young person at increased risk of depression and anxiety.
Vaping can be a gateway to conventional smoking, especially for young people. Non-smokers who use e-cigarettes are around three times as likely to take up conventional smoking compared to their peers who don't use e-cigarettes. It is known that tobacco companies have used many strategies, such as the promotion of e-cigarettes to get young people addicted to their products.