The government has outlined an ambition to go smokefree by 2030 and alternative nicotine delivery devices, such as nicotine vaping products, could play a crucial role in achieving this goal. A report from researchers at King’s College London, published today, covers the latest evidence on prevalence and characteristics of nicotine vaping product use in England and updates the evidence on the impact of vaping on smoking cessation.
Smoking remains the largest single risk factor for death and years of life lived in ill-health and is a leading cause of health inequalities in England.
Smoking and vaping prevalence among young people in England in 2020 stayed the same as in 2019 with 6.7% of 11- to 18-year-olds smoking sometimes or once a week (compared with 6.3% in 2019) and 4.8% vaping at least monthly in both years. As in previous years, most young people who try vaping also try smoking with only around 1% of current 11- to 18-year-old vapers having never tried smoking. Fruit flavours were the most popular amongst current vapers followed by menthol/mint. Less than half (43.3%) of 11 to 18 years olds thought that vaping was less harmful than smoking, compared with two-thirds in 2016.
King’s College London – Feb 23, 2021.
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