Alarming Statistics of People Now Engage in Vaping, Warns Global Health Body
In excess of 100 hundred million users, comprising at minimum 15 million minors, presently utilize e-cigarettes, driving a new trend of nicotine addiction, per latest global public health data.
Youth are, on average, nine times more likely than adults to vape, per existing global data.
Electronic cigarettes are driving a "new wave" of nicotine dependency, commented a senior health expert. "These devices are advertised as risk reduction but, actually, are addicting children on nicotine earlier and risk undermining decades of improvement."
Teens Being 'Targeted'
"Countless of citizens are stopping, or refraining from tobacco use due to tobacco regulation measures by states across the planet," he stated.
"As an answer to this significant advancement, the tobacco industry is pushing back with new nicotine devices, aggressively focusing on adolescents. Administrations must respond more rapidly and stronger in enacting established tobacco-control regulations," the representative added.
The vaping figures are an estimate since several states - 109 in total, and many in Africa and Southeast Asia - fail to collect data.
Per the analysis, as of February this year, at least 86 million e-cigarette individuals were adults, mainly in high-income states.
And at least 15 million teenagers between the ages of 13 and 15 currently use e-cigarettes, based on surveys from 123 states.
Although several countries have tried to establish e-cigarette rules to combat underage vaping in recent years, by the end of 2024, 62 countries yet had no policy in operation, and 74 nations had no minimum age at which e-cigarettes are allowed to be bought, reports the medical authority.
Meanwhile, tobacco use has been declining - from an estimated 1.38 billion consumers in 2000 to 1.2 billion in 2024.
Prevalence of tobacco usage among women decreased the largest - from 11% in 2010 to 6.6% in 2024.
Among men, the reduction was from 41.4% in 2010 to 32.5% in 2024.
But 20% of grown-ups worldwide even now uses tobacco.
Cigarette consumption is linked to several diseases, including cancer.
Experts say vaping is far less harmful than tobacco products, and can help you cease smoking. It is advised against for non-smokers.
Electronic cigarettes avoid burning tobacco and do not create resin or toxic gas, a pair of the most damaging components in tobacco fumes. They include nicotine, which might be addictive.
