Blackpool’s Director of Public Health voices concerns about vaping by young people and children

Dr Arif Rajpura, Blackpool Council’s Director of Public Health has again raised concerns about vaping by young people and children following intensive research in Blackpool, while council teams work hard to tackle the issue.

Blackpool Council’s Public Health team commissioned an independent body ‘Healthwatch’ to undertake research last year and into early this year regarding the number of children and young people who vape.

The research was commissioned due to rising concerns around the popularity and visibility of vaping in children and young people. A national call was made to provide evidence of vaping use at a regional level and Blackpool has undertaken one of the most detailed reviews of this issue.

The study surveyed 3,532 children and young people from across Blackpool and a further 638 children and young people provided feedback through focus groups.

It was found that 31% of children and young people surveyed currently vape, with 40% of those who vape, using vapes every day

Questions in this research were also asked to help understand why children and young people are vaping. The most common response, given by 547 children and young people, was vaping to relieve stress and mental health concerns. Other common responses included peer pressure, to look cool and because they had become addicted to vaping. Around 30% reported that they did not know why they vaped and it was felt by the majority of teachers and young people that further education on vaping would be beneficial. 

Vapes appear to be easily accessible for children and young people, the most commonly reported ways that they acquired vapes being buying them at corner shops, vape-shops and receiving vapes from friends and family. The most commonly used devices were “disposable” single-use vapes which were used by 75% of participants who vape. 

Dr Arif Rajpura, Blackpool Council Director of Public Health, said:

“I have had serious concerns about youth vaping for some years. This research has been a really strong and informative piece of work and demonstrates the scale of the issue but we continue to be committed to tackling the problem.

“E-cigarettes are an age-restricted product because there is potential for users to become addicted to nicotine-containing e-cigarettes. Vaping is not a risk free alternative particularly for those who have never smoked and we do not yet know the long-term effects of vaping on health.

“Anyone who sells cigarettes or vape products containing nicotine or tobacco to under-18s, or buys them on behalf of anyone under 18, is breaking the law. E-cigarettes are being branded and marketed to appeal to young people, and widespread action and more severe sanctions are needed if we are to prevent the development of a generation of young people who are addicted to nicotine vapes.

“Our Public Health team are working closely with trading standards enforcement to reduce under-age sales to children and young people.  We are also working to help schools and young people by providing more education and support around vaping, especially in relation to addiction, peer pressure and misconceptions around vaping being helpful to reduce stress.“

You can read the full report here: https://healthwatchblackpool.co.uk/children-and-young-peoples-vaping-report-blackpool/