Worrying Number of People Now Use E-Cigarettes, Warns Global Health Body
More than 100 hundred million users, comprising at minimum 15 million children, now use e-cigarettes, propelling a fresh surge of nicotine addiction, according to recent international health findings.
Minors are, on average, nine times more likely than adults to vape, based on existing global data.
E-cigarettes are propelling a "fresh wave" of nicotine addiction, commented a leading health representative. "These devices are marketed as risk reduction but, truthfully, are addicting children on nicotine at younger ages and threaten undermining years of progress."
Teens Being 'Focused On'
"Numerous of individuals are ceasing, or avoiding tobacco use because of tobacco regulation efforts by states around the planet," the official commented.
"As a reaction to this strong advancement, the tobacco business is fighting back with new nicotine devices, actively focusing on youth. Governments must respond faster and more vigorously in implementing proven tobacco-control regulations," the official added.
The vaping statistics are a projection since numerous states - 109 in sum, and several in African and Southeast Asia - fail to collect statistics.
Based on the analysis, as of this past February this year, at minimum 86 million e-cigarette users were adults, primarily in high-income states.
And at bare minimum 15 million teenagers between the ages of 13 and 15 presently vape, according to research from 123 countries.
While numerous nations have attempted to introduce e-cigarette regulations to address child vaping in recent years, by the conclusion of 2024, 62 countries even now had no regulation in place, and 74 countries had no minimum age at which e-cigarettes are allowed to be purchased, reports the public health body.
Meanwhile, tobacco use has been declining - from an approximated 1.38 billion consumers in 2000 to 1.2 billion in 2024.
Frequency of tobacco consumption among women decreased the most - from 11% in 2010 to 6.6% in 2024.
Among males, the decrease was from 41.4% in 2010 to 32.5% in 2024.
But one in five of grown-ups worldwide even now uses tobacco.
Cigarette consumption is associated to several illnesses, including cancer.
Experts claim vaping is considerably less harmful than tobacco products, and can help you stop smoking. It is not recommended for those who don't smoke.
Electronic cigarettes avoid burning tobacco and avoid generating black substance or toxic gas, two of the most harmful substances in tobacco smoke. They contain nicotine, which may be dependency-creating.
