Alarming Number of People Now Engage in Vaping, Warns Global Health Organization
More than 100 million people, including at least 15 million children, currently use e-cigarettes, driving a new trend of nicotine habit, per recent international public health findings.
Youth are, typically, nine times more prone than mature individuals to use e-cigarettes, based on existing worldwide data.
Vaping devices are driving a "fresh wave" of nicotine addiction, stated a prominent health expert. "These devices are promoted as harm reduction but, in reality, are hooking kids on nicotine sooner and endanger undermining generations of improvement."
Teens Being 'Targeted'
"Millions of people are stopping, or not taking up tobacco usage due to tobacco control efforts by nations throughout the globe," he commented.
"In response to this strong improvement, the tobacco sector is fighting back with new nicotine items, actively targeting youth. Governments must respond faster and stronger in enacting tested tobacco-control measures," he further stated.
The vaping statistics are an approximation since some states - 109 in total, and many in African and South-East Asia - fail to collect information.
According to the report, as of February this period, at minimum 86 million e-cigarette individuals were grown-ups, primarily in high-income states.
And at bare minimum 15 million adolescents between the ages of 13 and 15 presently vape, based on studies from 123 states.
Although several nations have attempted to implement e-cigarette rules to address youth vaping in recent years, by the conclusion of 2024, 62 states even now had no policy in operation, and 74 countries had no minimum age at which e-cigarettes can be acquired, states the public health authority.
Meanwhile, tobacco consumption has been declining - from an approximated 1.38 billion individuals in 2000 to 1.2 billion in 2024.
Frequency of tobacco use among women dropped the largest - from 11% in 2010 to 6.6% in 2024.
For males, the reduction was from 41.4% in 2010 to 32.5% in 2024.
But one in five of mature individuals internationally even now consumes tobacco.
Smoking is linked to numerous illnesses, such as cancer.
Specialists say vaping is considerably less damaging than traditional cigarettes, and can help you stop smoking. It is not recommended for non-smokers.
E-cigarettes do not burn tobacco and do not create tar or toxic gas, two of the most damaging components in tobacco smoke. They contain nicotine, which can be addictive.
