The government is backing a new study to track the long-term effects of vaping on young people – and launching an anti-vaping campaign aimed at teenagers.
The study will track 100,000 young people over 10 years.
It will monitor them from the age of eight up to 18, collecting health data and tracking their wellbeing and other behaviours.
The long-term effects of vaping are not fully known. It’s hoped the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)-funded study will provide the most detailed information yet on its long-term impacts on young people, officials said.
Two other new studies will capture the latest data in vaping research.
Public health minister Ashley Dalton said: “We know that vaping can be a useful tool to quit smoking, but it’s crucial we have clear evidence on the long-term health harms, especially for young people.
“This landmark series of studies, combined with our first nationwide youth vaping campaign, will help drive evidence-based, decisive action to protect our children’s future.”
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Health correspondent
It’s a bit of a public health dilemma.
We know smoking kills so vaping has been promoted as a safer alternative, a useful tool to help adult smokers to quit.
But youth vaping has skyrocketed in recent years, with a quarter of 11 to 15 year olds having tried it – mostly young people who had never tried a cigarette before taking up the e-habit.
The problem here is we don’t yet fully understand the dangers of vaping.
So this new government-backed study will provide the most detailed information yet on the impacts of youth vaping.
The 10-year study will track 100,000 young people and collect health data as well as monitoring information other physical and mental behaviours.
This will be crucial data to help people to make informed choices.
The government has introduced tough legislation to stop current 15-year-olds from ever being able to buy cigarettes.
They will be the first smoke-free generation.
But potentially also a generation of vapers doing incalculable harm to their bodies.
We just don’t know. Yet.
The YouTube and Instagram campaign – called Love Your Lungs – will see influencers such as Big Manny appeal to teenagers aged 13 to 18.
It is the first nationwide campaign across England to inform young people about vaping and nicotine addiction, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said.
The department has also commissioned a video which shows a woman in a toxic relationship, but it transpires her ‘partner’ is her vape.
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Sarah Sleet, chief executive at Asthma and Lung UK, said: “The number of non-smokers, particularly young people, taking up vaping is extremely worrying.
“The long-term impact of vaping on the lungs isn’t yet known, so research into its effect on young people is really important.”
