Vape-related hospitalisations go from zero to 12 in just two years

The HSE responded to a parliamentary question from Conor Sheehan TD that it has not been directed by the Department of Health to develop a stop vaping/nicotine pouch cessation service.

The number of people hospitalised with vape-related illnesses is rising steadily amid questions of where funding for youth awareness campaigns has gone.

The HSE has been asked to explain delays in rolling out a youth vaping prevention campaign after €300,000 was allocated for it last year.

In response to a parliamentary question from Labour TD Conor Sheehan, the HSE said “concern has risen due to an increase in the incidence of vaping-related disorders internationally”.

In 2021, there were zero hospitalisations linked to vape-related disorders recorded in Ireland. 

This jumped to seven diagnoses in 2022, 10 in 2023, and 12 in 2024. 

Mr Sheehan said while the number is small, it is increasing.

Health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said €300,000 was allocated in Budget 2025 for a youth vaping prevention media campaign, which is currently being developed by the HSE.

Mr Sheehan further asked the HSE if it was considering providing QUIT campaigns to vapers. 

The HSE responded that it “has not been directed by the department of health to develop a stop vaping/nicotine pouch cessation service”.

“The development of such a service requires dedicated additional resources in terms of staff and capital funding,” the HSE said.

Mr Sheehan said it is “absolutely ridiculous” that the youth awareness strategy has not been rolled out 10 months on from last October’s budget. 

“You talk to a lot of parents now and they’re finding vapes falling out of the washing of their teenagers," he said.

“It’s illegal now to sell vapes to under-18s, but that’s a relatively recent development. There are ways around that, to put it mildly.”