Children who vape 'three times more likely to become smokers'

The new study also shows that children who vape are more likely to be diagnosed with asthma and have poor mental health. Picture: iStock

Children who vape are three times more likely to become smokers later, a “striking” new worldwide analysis of vaping by young people has found.

The review, the largest of its kind, also shows they are more likely to be diagnosed with asthma and have poor mental health.

The authors warned this is “the strongest evidence to date” suggesting young vapers around the world face “a serious range of physical and psychological harms from vaping”.

Links between vaping and increased odds of respiratory illness and substance abuse including alcohol and cannabis were identified.

The University of York and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine analysed all available reviews on youth vaping coming to 56 reviews on 384 studies. Some 21 of these looked at the use of e-cigarettes among young people and later cigarette smoking.

Vapers were more likely to smoke in later life and also more likely to smoke more frequently and intensely, the analysis showed.

Other harmful outcomes included pneumonia, bronchitis, lower total sperm counts, dizziness, headaches, and migraines. A link was identified between depression and suicidal thoughts among young vapers also.

Associate professor in health science Su Golder at the University of York, said:

The consistency in the evidence is striking. Across multiple studies, young people who use e-cigarettes are more likely to smoke in the future. 

The findings support “stronger public health measures”, Dr Golder said.

Greg Hartwell, clinical assistant professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: “Our review shows exactly why further restrictions on the tobacco industry, who control the vaping market, are so important.”

Senior author and assistant professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Rebecca Glover, added: “Our study provides the strongest evidence to date that young people globally face a serious range of physical and psychological harms from vaping and are at higher risk of transitioning to smoking.”

Ireland's vape laws tightened

The Government has approved proposals for further tightening vape laws, including banning disposable vapes and limiting flavours in all vapes. 

Up to July, they were with the Attorney General’s office.

Paul Kavanagh, chairman of the Royal College of Physicians Ireland clinical advisory group on smoking and e-cigarettes, recently shared his serious concerns about vaping in the Irish Examiner.

“It may well be another 10, 15, 20 years before we have a definitive and clear picture in relation to the health effects of e-cigarettes, particularly when it comes to some disease categories like cancer,” he said.

Dr Kavanagh said that, up to recently, there was “unrestricted access” to vapes in Ireland.

“What that has led to is rapidly-increasing e-cigarette use, particularly among children and young people, and at the same time, we have not seen any further reduction in smoking prevalence in our population,” he warned.

James Murphy, British American Tobacco director of science and research, said: “There is little evidence that vaping is a gateway to smoking. In fact, it has helped millions of adults move away from cigarettes.

“While not risk-free, experts agree it poses only a fraction of the risks of smoking.”

A still from 'The Vapening', a film made by teenage members of the Foróige CRIB youth and family support project in Sligo about the prevalance of vaping among young Irish people. See link below.