‘I began vaping at 12 and now I can not stop – everyone seems to be doing it’

A teenager who started smoking when she was 12 says she is now addicted and it is now having health implications she can’t keep up with. Holly was speaking as new research found one in seven children have been caught vaping.

Around half of parents whose children have been caught vaping were under 11 years old and almost two-fifths bought them from friends at school. Others took them from family members, bought them online or used a fake ID to buy vapes in shops.

Just a fifth of parents are happy schools have adequate procedures in place to detect vaping but many parents say that their child’s school is increasingly communicating with pupils about the dangers of vaping. One in seven parents says their child has been suspended for selling vapes during school time and a further one in eight have been expelled for dealing vapes on school premises.

Nicky Bowman, a mum of three, said: “My daughter started vaping at the age of 12 and is still addicted now. At the time, I never smelt her vaping in the house, so it was very difficult to monitor.

“This isn’t about me being a ‘relaxed’ parent or not being diligent, it’s a really easy thing to miss as it’s so easy to hide. My daughter really regrets starting now as it’s very expensive and she’s struggling to give up. The problem is even more difficult for schools to manage.

“Most of these vapes wouldn’t even activate a smoke alarm so without searching the children or catching them in the act, it’s challenging. The onus has to be on the Government to clamp down on access. My daughter had no challenges in buying them at the shop at just 12, which is where the problem started.”

Nicky’s daughter Holly said: “When I started vaping it was no big deal, just something that made me feel grown up and everyone else was doing it – at no point did I consider it long term. They didn’t make me cough and the lack of odour meant I didn’t have to hide it from my mum or the teachers. The flavours made them even more appealing, it just felt like a nice thing to do. Little did I know I would quickly become addicted, when you’re 12 you don’t understand this concept and you’re not even mature enough to recognise it’s happening. Five years later, I’m struggling to kick the habit, both the cost and health implications aren’t sustainable for me. It’s a decision I really regret.”

Two-fifths of parents welcome the Government’s new Tobacco and Vape Bill that will phase out the sale of tobacco and curb youth vaping. However, a third would also like to see a national public awareness campaign educating people on how to safely dispose of single-use vapes.

Mira Osinibi, Clinical Paediatric Respiratory Nurse Specialist said: “The biggest problem I’m seeing, particularly in my role as a paediatric respiratory nurse, is that vaping addiction in young people sits side by side with the time spent scrolling on social media. Many scroll on socials into the early hours whilst using their vape. This means the amount of time spent vaping is far higher than they were ever designed to be used for.

“It’s not as simple as telling young people to stop as many are already addicted. Access has to be limited to stop these younger children falling into the same trap. This is something the Government has to tackle with a real sense of urgency. Whilst they smell nice and they don’t make these young addicts cough, they’re very much an unwelcome addition to children’s lives.”

Colin Stitt, Head of Safer Schools at Ineqe Safeguarding Group, said: “This research is a stark warning: we must urgently safeguard our children and young people from the health risks and social harms of vaping. Banning sales and use is just the first step. We need far stronger action to curb the promotion of these products and restrict access to them, both online and offline.”

“We call on the government to take decisive action and urge educators, parents, carers, and community members to educate children about the risks of vaping. Open, honest, and non-judgemental conversations at home and school can dispel myths, empower young people to make informed choices, and minimise the influence of peers.”

Amy Brettell, Manager Director at Zurich Municipal, said: “Vaping has become a huge problem in schools in recent years and is now another challenge for teachers to tackle as we start a new academic year.

“Teachers have an important role to play in educating children about the health risks associated with vaping, so it’s great to see more schools are doing this. However, some young people will be unaware that some of these devices can be dangerous and start fires if they’re stored or discarded incorrectly. We would encourage schools to talk to children about this, especially as a lot of children may be hiding vapes and doing so in unsafe places.”

Vaping vigilance tips

Parents or teachers concerned about children vaping can visit Zurich Municipal’s partner and safeguarding experts, Ineqe, offer the following tips:

• Be observant. Keep an eye on a young person’s behaviour. It’s also helpful to know who they hang out with and if vaping is a regular part of hang outs.
• Don’t panic. If you discover a young person in your care is vaping or has tried it, it is important to approach them calmly and avoid confrontation.
• Ask questions. Make sure you get your facts straight by asking questions, such as, “Have you ever tried vaping?” or “What do you like about vaping?”
• Listen to them. Rather than reacting in anger or disappointment, put your focus on them and give them space to open up to you without judgement.
• Talk it out. Sharing useful facts and resources with them might help you explain your concerns, while allowing you to talk about negative influences.
• Use safety settings. Make sure the correct privacy and safety settings are working on your young person’s online accounts, including safety filters.
• Lead by example. It’s important to outline the difference between those who vape to help quit smoking and those who vape recreationally – including yourself and any other adults they may know. If you vape, do what you can to avoid vaping in front of the young person, and make sure to answer any questions they may have.
• Seek professional help. If a child or young person in your care is vaping and you are concerned, speak to a healthcare professional.