Smoke free insights: Children’s Mental Health Week
This week is Children’s Mental Health Week. A 2024 Action for Smoking and Health (ASH) survey identified that 18% of 11-17 year olds had tried vaping in the previous year. The findings also showed that “just wanting to give it a try” and “joining in with peers” were the most common reasons for vaping amongst young people.
Vaping is recommended for adult smokers who are wanting to quit, or to prevent a return to smoking. Vaping is significantly less harmful than regular cigarettes, because most of the harmful cancer-causing chemicals released in cigarette smoke, including tar and carbon monoxide, are not contained in vape aerosol. However, evidence suggests that nicotine poses higher risks for young people than for adults, as the developing brain is more sensitive to its addictive effects.
It is illegal to sell vapes to anybody under 18 years of age. Nicotine addiction in young people can cause several issues with mental health and wellbeing such as anxiety, problems with attention, sleep disruption, and an increased risk of addiction later in life.
In a bid to tackle both youth vaping, and curb the environmental impact of disposable vapes, all single use vaping products will be banned in the UK from June 2025.
To reduce the appeal and exposure of vapes to young people, current proposals under the government’s new Tobacco and Vapes bill are also looking at limiting vape flavour descriptors, moving to plainer device and packaging designs, and introducing restrictions around points of sale and promotion.
If you work for the Trust or care for a patient and would like support, please email us at smokefreeready@slam.nhs.uk
To find your local, free stop smoking service, visit https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/ready-to-quit-smoking/find-your-local-stop-smoking-service/ or download the NHS Quit Smoking app.
