The use of e-cigarettes, or vaping, has seen a seven-fold increase in England over the past three years, with one million people now vaping despite never having been regular smokers. This alarming trend has raised concerns among health experts, especially as rates of vaping among adults who had never regularly smoked have sharply increased.
According to a study published in The Lancet Public Health journal, the proportion of never-smokers who are now vaping has risen significantly, with one in 28 adults in England using e-cigarettes. Separate figures from the Office for National Statistics also show that 5.1 million people in Britain use e-cigarettes, with the highest rates among those aged 16 to 24.
While vaping has helped many adults quit smoking, experts are calling for urgent action to address the rise in vaping among young people and those who have never smoked. Regulations to make vaping products less appealing, especially to young adults, are considered essential to prevent new public health risks.
The study also found that most people now vaping who had never regularly smoked were doing so daily over a sustained period, with young adults driving the dramatic increase in vaping rates. Banning disposable vapes, as the government plans to do, is unlikely to solve the problem, as some brands have already launched reusable products.
Efforts to minimize vaping among young non-smokers while still allowing smokers to use e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation tool are essential to protect public health. These measures, such as stricter regulations on product appearance, packaging, and marketing, can help strike a balance and reduce the potential harm of widespread vaping among never-smokers.
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