NHS points over 1,000 prescriptions for vaping-addicted youngsters as younger as 13

Children as young as 13 are being prescribed NRT (Nicotine Replacement Therapy) for their addictions to vaping, which is being penned as an ‘epidemic’ experts say

The NHS has been prescribing children as young as 13 with nicotine patches and gum in a desperate attempt to crack down on youth vaping addiction.

Doctors in Scotland have issued over 1,000 prescriptions in the past two years to help teenagers quell their rampant addictions, something that is becoming a growing problem – some have even penned it as a ‘vaping epidemic’.

It has now been unveiled that the number of children aged between 16 and 18 being handed prescriptions for ‘stop smoking’ treatments has increased by nearly 60%.

The findings were published by the Daily Mail after looking into the child nicotine crisis, where almost one in five Scottish kids under the legal age to buy nicotine products (those under 18) have tried vaping.

And of those in the same age bracket, 16% have admitted to having tried smoking – according to a survey published by the Scottish Government in 2024.

The SNP (Scottish National Party) have had pressure put on them by experts and charity leaders as they fear tobacco and vape business have ‘lured’ teens into ‘addiction’.

Sheila Duffy, chief executive of health charity ASH Scotland, said: “Tobacco industry promotions have lured the young into starting to use their addictive, harmful products for decades and the same is happening with vapes.

“The uptake of tobacco and nicotine products by children demonstrates the need for strong measures in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill to lower the risk of damage to young people’s lives from health-harming products marketed by the corporations that profit from them.

“Studies consistently show that young people who use vapes are up to three times at greater risk of starting to smoke tobacco and this is a huge public health concern.”

The Mail discovered data from Public Health Scotland that reveals, in 2023, 166 children between 13 and 15 were prescribed Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT).

For those between 16 to 18, there were 289 issued prescriptions for 289. And last year, in 2024, 116 children between 13 to 15 were prescribed the treatment.

In a huge increase from the year before, 2024 saw 461 prescriptions handed to those aged 16 to 18 – making for a 59% increase.

NHS Scotland offers seven types of NRT, which include a range of gums, lozenges and sprays. The treatment works by tackling the addiction with a dose of ‘therapeutic nicotine’, which does not have any of the harmful additions often linked with smoking and vaping.

This essentially helps those going through NRT to slowly ween off their dependency on nicotine, rather than go fully cold-turkey.

Dr Sandesh Gulhane, a Scottish Conservative Health spokesperson expressed: “As a parent, I find it deeply concerning that kids as young as 13 are now being prescribed nicotine replacements.

“The SNP have failed to tackle the vaping epidemic that has led to thousands of children becoming addicted to those products. Ministers must ensure that upcoming laws banning the use of single-use vapes are robustly enforced.”

In a bid to tackle the impact of single-use vapes on the environment and the health of the population, specifically children, the UK is banning the sale and supply from June 1.

A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said: “NRT is one of the most effective aids for managing nicotine dependence and is licensed from the age of 12.

“We are working hard to tackle youth smoking and vaping, including working closely with the UK Government and other devolved nations on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. This will gradually increase the age of sale for the products and create a tobacco-free generation.”

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