‘Worrying’ rise in vaping ‘disorders’ in children alarms health officials

British healthcare officials are “seriously concerned” about a surge in youth experiencing lung damage and other harmful effects of vaping.

Forty children and teens were admitted to hospitals in England last year for “vaping-related disorders,” up from 11 two years prior, according to the UK National Health Service.

NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard addressed the issue Wednesday at the NHS Confed Expo in Manchester, noting that the colors and flavors of e-cigarettes make them extremely appealing to kids.

Pritchard claimed that in 1948, more than eight out of 10 men smoked, and now only one in eight do — attributing the shift to e-cigarettes.

“For the most part, a success of wider public policy and also, particularly over the last few years, a success of innovation with the advent of e-cigarettes encouraging many former smokers to switch,” she said.

“But with that innovation has come a new challenge — the availability and attractiveness of e-cigarettes to our young people,” she added.

Pritchard referenced a recent “worrying” report from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health about the youth admissions to England hospitals for vaping.

“It is seriously concerning that admissions for vaping-related conditions for young people are up almost fourfold over the past two years,” she said.

“So the RCPCH is right to call for action, and the government are right to be taking those calls seriously, and I’m sure we’ll be seeing further steps put forward when their call for evidence on this issue concludes.”

Hazel Cheeseman, deputy chief executive of the Action on Smoking and Health charity, echoed Pritchard’s concerns about the risks of teen vaping.

“Swift action is needed by government to limit youth vaping and maintain the opportunity for adults to use vapes as a quitting aid,” she said.

“Every year thousands of children are admitted to hospital as a result of smoking-related illness caused by second-hand smoke,” she added. “Getting parents to stop, through switching to vaping or other means, is tremendously important to child health.”

In 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that young people smoke e-cigarettes more than any other age group.

According to Truth Initiative, a nonprofit tobacco control organization, sales of e-cigarettes with the highest levels of nicotine (5% or greater nicotine strength) have increased from 5% of total e-cigarette sales in 2017 to 81% in 2022.

A recent UK study found that some vape products that claim to omit nicotine actually contain the same amount of addictive substances as a full-strength e-cigarette.

Studies suggest that vaping could be a risk factor for lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, mental illness, sexual dysfunction and even poor eyesight.