Children and young people who vape are significantly more likely to experience respiratory problems, poor mental health, and a range of other health issues, according to a major review of available research. Experts have cautioned that vaping serves as a "gateway" to tobacco smoking and should not be considered a benign part of adolescence.
Doctors from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) analyzed 81 published studies focusing on the effects of vaping among young people. Their findings, published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood, suggest that vaping is associated with an increased risk of respiratory symptoms such as coughing and wheezing, as well as mental health conditions including anxiety, depression, and panic disorders.
The review also identified links between vaping and sleep disturbances, eye conditions, and oral health problems, including inflammation, ulcers, and dry mouth. Evidence also pointed to potential harm for infants whose mothers vaped during pregnancy, with observed effects such as "more abnormal reflexes," "lower motor maturity," reduced weight gain, and poorer self-regulation.
"There is strong evidence... that vaping predicts and increases the risk of subsequent cigarette initiation among young people who have never smoked," the report stated. "There is consistent evidence... that young people who vape report higher rates of cough, wheeze and other respiratory symptoms than non-vapers."
Emerging evidence indicates a wider spectrum of health harms affecting children and young people, encompassing mental health, oral and dental health, allergies, sleep, eye symptoms, and adverse perinatal outcomes for babies exposed to nicotine in utero, the researchers added.
This review comes as the number of people who vape in Britain has surpassed the number of cigarette smokers for the first time, with 5.5 million vapers compared to 4.9 million smokers. In response to growing concerns, the government announced plans in July to implement plain packaging for vapes and change flavor names to simple descriptions, moving away from names inspired by sweets and desserts.
Professor Will Carroll, a co-author of the review, urged stricter measures, stating, "Vaping should not be seen as a harmless part of growing up. As paediatricians, we call on the Government to go further and limit the types of flavours available, as opposed to just their descriptions."
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson commented, "Children should never vape. We have already banned single-use vapes and have legislated to ban advertising and sponsorship from next year too."