Urgent action to stop the of E-cigs trend among youngsters and the consequential uptake of tobacco based cigarettes has been called for following a report by the Health Equalities Group (HEG) and the Centre For Public Health at Liverpool John Moores University.
The report reveals that school children in Liverpool are using e-cigarettes and taking them to school, and that E-cigs are becoming a “prominent” part of youth culture. Further, the authors say that their study showed children were not only getting hold of e-cigarettes but had a lack of awareness about their potential risks, relying on anecdotal evidence from their friends and family members.
Readers of this website will recall a major article into E-cigarettes from Unionsafety editor, Chris Ingram; raised the issue of children taking up the use of E-cigarettes, ‘vaping’ as it is called. Despite claims to the contrary from social network sites Twitter and Facebook, and accusations that Unionsafety was not ‘looking at the science’ and personal attacks; the new report clearly provides evidence that concerns over the use of e-cigs and the subsequent nicotine addiction, by children was not unfounded in any shape or form.
Indeed the possible move to tobacco based cigarettes by school kids using e-cigs, remains one of the main concerns with regard to e-cigarettes.
Commenting on the release of the report, web editor Chris Ingram said:
“Far from stopping smoking amongst children and teenagers, E-cigs are in danger of actually promoting nicotine addiction and also the trying of tobacco based cigarettes for the greater kick of nicotine that youngsters perceive to be the case.
In fact they may well be correct in that perception, as anecdotal evidence shows that smokers go back to tobacco based cigarettes simply because the efficacy of the liquid nicotine cannot be guaranteed from batch to batch and brand to brand.”
He added:
“With all the attention being based on the nicotine delivery within e-cigarettes, the addictive nature of some of the chemical compounds which are so dangerous and carcinogenic that exist in normal cigarettes is being forgotten.
It is my opinion that until that issue is resolved, e-cigarettes will always fail to stop the majority of smokers who try out e-cigs, from going back to real cigarettes.
Clearly for those who don’t, the E-cigarette, even with the limited knowledge of the health affects around their use; is a better alternative to smoking tobacco based cigarettes.”
The report entitled, “Most people I know have got one” – Young people’s perceptions and experiences of electronic cigarettes; makes a number of recommendations and claims that urgent action is needed. Some wonder whether or not tackling the issue of bad parenting would be the most effective way of instilling responsibility into the home.
The Liverpool Echo news item quotes Robin Ireland, chief executive of HEG as saying:
“Supposedly promoted as a new way to quit smoking, this research indicates that instead young people are using e-cigarettes for leisure purposes. This is particularly concerning given that the safety of e-cigarettes has not yet been thoroughly scientifically evaluated. It is clear that urgent action is needed to educate and protect young people.
“If they are being used to help adults quit smoking, fine. What we are really concerned about is that the marketing of these seems to be directly at young people.”
Mr Ireland added: “There’s a new generation growing up with a new product available, not moderated in any way and there’s no control (e-cigarettes are not regulated).”
In an echo of the points raised by Chris Ingram in his original article for this website, Mr Ireland added that history was repeating itself – with much of what happened with tobacco advertising in the ’40s and ’50s mirroring that of e-cigarettes with modern day Marlboro men advertising “vaping” and celebrity endorsement.
The report has two strands: e-cigarette access among young people in Cheshire and Merseyside and young people’s perceptions and experiences of e-cigarettes.
One youngster quoted, a boy aged 14 from Liverpool, said:
“There are people in my form that have no experience with smoking or nothing and I was speaking about my pen (e-cigarette) and he went ‘look at mine’, and I was like, I’ve never seen you smoke before. Now, I’m noticing the people in school with these pens, they’re on the rise.”
Another teenager, a boy aged 15 from St Helens, said: “I’ve tried one. A friend’s. At a party when I was a bit drunk ... there’s a lot in our school.”
Another pupil talked about how the different colours and flavours allow you to personalise your e-cigarette experience by having a “special unique pen”.
The Advertising Standards Agency is looking at the adverts surrounding e-cigarette use, and has already upheld a complaint made by the Editor of this website and thousands of others. Meanwhile, restrictions on the sale to under-18s are imminent.
The Health Equalities Group (HEG) and the Centre For Public Health at Liverpool John Moores University report summary introduction says it all when it comes to the use of E-cigarettes by school children and teenagers:
“Hailed as a healthier alternative to tobacco cigarettes, e-cigarettes have become widely available in the UK in retail outlets and online sources, have been extensively discussed by the popular media and have received acclaim and celebrity endorsement.
With claims that e-cigarettes are advertised using youth-relevant appeals and a lack of legislation regarding the sale of these products to children, however, the rapid growth of the e-cigarette industry has been met with considerable opposition.
Neither the safety nor efficacy of e-cigarettes has been thoroughly scientifically evaluated, while there are concerns their uptake by children may lead to progression to tobacco cigarettes. Thus, it is imperative that efforts are made to understand the prevalence of and attitudes towards e-cigarette use among young people, so as
to inform the development of appropriate health and regulatory responses.”
Source: Liverpool Echo / Unionsafety / John Moores University
See also:
Is The E-cigarette The New ‘Tobacco Industry Scandal’ Waiting To Surface
After The Health Damage Is Done?
Young Mother Takes Steps To Ensure Her Nicotine Addiction Will Not Be Allowed
To Harm Her Children
