Worrying Number of Individuals Now Engage in Vaping, States Global Health Body
Over 100 million users, comprising at least 15 million youth, currently utilize e-cigarettes, fueling a recent surge of nicotine habit, according to latest global health data.
Minors are, on average, nine times more likely than adults to use e-cigarettes, according to existing international figures.
E-cigarettes are propelling a "fresh wave" of nicotine addiction, stated a senior health official. "These devices are advertised as harm reduction but, truthfully, are addicting youth on nicotine earlier and threaten compromising generations of progress."
Teens Being 'Targeted'
"Millions of individuals are quitting, or not taking up tobacco usage because of tobacco regulation efforts by states around the planet," the official stated.
"In response to this strong improvement, the tobacco industry is fighting back with novel nicotine products, actively aiming at adolescents. Administrations must take action faster and stronger in enacting established tobacco-control policies," he continued.
The vaping numbers are a projection since some nations - 109 in total, and several in African and South-East Asia - fail to collect information.
Per the study, as of recent February this year, at minimum 86 million e-cigarette users were adults, primarily in high-income states.
And at minimum 15 million youth between the ages of 13 and 15 currently vape, per research from 123 states.
Even though many states have tried to implement e-cigarette policies to address underage vaping in the past few years, by the conclusion of 2024, 62 nations yet had no regulation in effect, and 74 nations had no age restriction at which e-cigarettes are allowed to be purchased, reports the health authority.
Meanwhile, tobacco use has been dropping - from an projected 1.38 billion users in 2000 to 1.2 billion in 2024.
Prevalence of tobacco use among women dropped the most - from 11% in 2010 to 6.6% in 2024.
With men, the decrease was from 41.4% in 2010 to 32.5% in 2024.
But a fifth of mature individuals worldwide still uses tobacco.
Tobacco use is linked to many illnesses, such as cancer.
Experts say vaping is considerably less harmful than tobacco products, and can help you stop smoking. It is advised against for those who don't smoke.
Electronic cigarettes avoid burning tobacco and do not produce tar or CO, a couple of the most harmful components in tobacco vapors. They contain nicotine, which can be dependency-creating.