Vaping trend increases among non-smoking youth in England, know how it affects your health

A new study published in the Lancet public health journal and funded by the charity Cancer Research UK found that the number of adults in England who have started vaping despite never having smoked regularly has reached one million. Researchers looked at a survey of nearly 150,000 adults in England between 2016 and 2024. Read on to know more about the study.

Vaping on the rise among young adult non-smokers in England

Researchers estimate that the number of adults in England who have started vaping despite never smoking regularly has reached one million, the BBC reports. This is a sharp increase since 2020, with disposables becoming available from 2021. The study was published in the Lancet Public Health journal and funded by the charity Cancer Research UK.

This increase is due to young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 who never smoked regularly but are now using e-cigarettes.

Dr Sarah Jackson of University College London (UCL) and lead researcher said the public-health impact of a “substantial increase” in vaping among people who have never smoked regularly depends on whether they would otherwise. What would you be doing? “It’s likely that some people would smoke if vaping was not an available option,” he said.

“In this case, vaping is clearly less harmful.

“However, for people who did not smoke, vaping regularly over a sustained period of time poses a greater risk than not vaping at all.”

For the study, researchers looked at surveys of nearly 150,000 adults in England between 2016 and 2024. Respondents who agreed with the statement: “I have never been a smoker – that is, smoked for a year or more,” were counted as “never regular smokers.” ,

And between 2016 and 2020, only 0.5% of them vaped. However, by April 2024, this had increased to 3.5%, with more than half of those aged between 18 and 24.

Researchers say that over the past few years, those taking vapes as “never regular smokers” were younger, more likely to be women and drinking more alcohol than before.

Professor Jamie Brown at UCL and senior researcher said: “These findings are a reminder that action is needed to try to reduce vaping among young people who have never smoked before.

“However, a balancing act is needed to prevent smokers from quitting using e-cigarettes.”

Vaping can affect your health in different ways. Here, take a look at some of the ways vaping impacts your overall health.

lung damage

Vaping can cause lung inflammation and damage due to harmful chemicals in e-liquids, such as diacetyl, which has been linked to serious lung conditions such as bronchiolitis obliterans (popcorn lung).

nicotine addiction

Many vaping products contain nicotine which is a highly addictive substance that affects brain development, especially in young adults, leading to dependence and potentially increasing the risk of smoking.

cardiovascular health

Vaping increases heart rate and blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular problems due to the nicotine and toxins.

effects on the immune system

The chemicals in e-cigarettes can weaken the immune system by impairing the body’s ability to fight infection, making users more susceptible to illnesses such as pneumonia.

exposure to harmful substances

E-cigarette aerosols contain toxic compounds including formaldehyde and acrolein, which are linked to cancer and respiratory problems.

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