A survey among New Zealand’s young teenagers proves non-smoking youth are not taking up vaping according to the Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates.
Smoking among the country’s teens has fallen to its lowest levels in over 20 years, while very few non-smoking students take up vaping, the significant study of secondary school students shows.
“Vaping rates might be up, but these are overwhelmingly young people who were smoking in the first place,” says Nancy Loucas, Executive Coordinator of the Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA).
“Importantly, this survey confirms that vaping is not hooking non-smokers, as just three percent of those who vape daily have never smoked. What’s more, while many may try it, very few ever become regular vapers,” she says.
The ASH Year 10 Snapshot surveyed 26,000 Kiwi students aged 13 and 14 years old on their smoking and vaping behaviour and attitudes. The survey found just 1.3% of year 10s are smoking daily, down from 2% in 2019.
Dave Cross – Planet of the Vapes – 2022-03-03.