Study shows that vaping has become a new trend among teenagers

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While the government is actively seeking to regulate the vaping industry, with a new bill proposing to regulate vapes similarly to tobacco products, including banning public use and advertising, the industry seems to be gaining more customers daily from the young ones.

Various studies and researches with the recent one coming from the University of Cape Town (UCT), have reported that teenagers as young as early high school entrance level actively use vape daily before going to school, during break time, as well as after school.

The research draws on a data-collection effort led by Professor Richard van-Zyl Smit at the UCT Lung Institute, which surveyed around 25,000 high school learners across 52 fee-paying schools in eight of South Africa’s nine provinces.

The findings reveal that nearly 17% of the surveyed students currently use e-cigarettes, a striking contrast to much lower rates of cigarette use (2%), cannabis use (5%), and hookah pipe use (3%). The study also found that vaping is more common among older youths, with 9% of Grade 8 learners reporting use, rising to an average of 30% among matric learners, and some schools seeing rates as high as 46%.

Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has been an opponent of this product from as far as 2014 where he also said that it if was up to him, he would outright ban the product because the long term side effect cause a burden the State through Health Department.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), since 2005 the e-cigarette industry has grown from one manufacturer in China to a global business worth an estimated $3billion with almost 500 different brands.

A concerning aspect of this recent study was the high level of vape dependence among users. Nearly 47% of current vapers reported using e-cigarettes within the first hour of waking up, and 88% said they used vapes that contain nicotine.

The study also highlighted that 38% of students vape daily, with an additional 50% vaping at least four days a week. Around 12% of learners indicated that they were unable to get through the school day without vaping, and close to 30% of current vape users in the sample reported feeling anxious or angry if they had to wait too long before vaping.

The research also explored the reasons behind why students start and continue vaping.

While over 50% of students cited social influences like family, friends, and peer pressure as reasons for starting, nearly 20% began vaping to cope with stress and anxiety.

Reasons for continued vaping were primarily linked to stress relief and addiction, with 28% of learners using e-cigarettes to manage anxiety or depression. Around 15% admitted to being addicted to vaping.