Worrying Number of Users Now Use E-Cigarettes, Warns Global Health Body
In excess of 100 million individuals, comprising at minimum 15 million youth, presently utilize e-cigarettes, fueling a new trend of nicotine addiction, per current global public health reports.
Children are, on average, nine times more prone than grown-ups to use e-cigarettes, per current global statistics.
Vaping devices are propelling a "new wave" of nicotine addiction, commented a leading health representative. "These devices are promoted as risk reduction but, in reality, are hooking kids on nicotine at younger ages and threaten weakening generations of progress."
Adolescents Being 'Targeted'
"Countless of people are stopping, or not taking up tobacco usage because of tobacco regulation measures by countries across the world," the representative stated.
"As an answer to this significant improvement, the tobacco industry is fighting back with new nicotine products, aggressively targeting adolescents. Governments must take action faster and stronger in applying tested tobacco-control policies," the official further stated.
The vaping statistics are a projection since numerous nations - 109 in all, and numerous in African and Asian regions - do not gather data.
Per the analysis, as of this past February this period, at least 86 million e-cigarette users were mature individuals, mainly in developed countries.
And at least 15 million adolescents between the ages of 13 and 15 presently use e-cigarettes, per surveys from 123 countries.
While numerous nations have made efforts to introduce e-cigarette regulations to combat youth vaping in recent years, by the end of 2024, 62 states still had no regulation in place, and 74 nations had no age limit at which e-cigarettes may be bought, says the health body.
Meanwhile, tobacco use has been dropping - from an approximated 1.38 billion consumers in 2000 to 1.2 billion in 2024.
Occurrence of tobacco usage among women decreased the most - from 11% in 2010 to 6.6% in 2024.
Among males, the reduction was from 41.4% in 2010 to 32.5% in 2024.
But a fifth of adults internationally still employs tobacco.
Tobacco use is linked to several diseases, like cancer.
Experts state vaping is significantly less damaging than traditional cigarettes, and can aid you quit smoking. It is advised against for non-smokers.
Electronic cigarettes do not burn tobacco and avoid generating tar or carbon monoxide, two of the most dangerous elements in tobacco smoke. They have nicotine, which can be habit-forming.
