Alarming Number of Users Now Use E-Cigarettes, States Global Health Body
More than 100 million people, comprising at minimum 15 million youth, presently employ e-cigarettes, propelling a new trend of nicotine addiction, per latest worldwide medical reports.
Minors are, usually, nine times more likely than adults to engage in vaping, per existing worldwide statistics.
E-cigarettes are driving a "recent wave" of nicotine habit, stated a leading health expert. "They are marketed as harm reduction but, actually, are ensnaring youth on nicotine sooner and threaten compromising decades of advancement."
Young People Being 'Focused On'
"Millions of individuals are quitting, or refraining from tobacco use due to tobacco restriction measures by countries throughout the world," the official commented.
"As an answer to this substantial progress, the tobacco business is resisting with novel nicotine products, actively aiming at young people. Governments must take action faster and more forcefully in applying tested tobacco-control measures," the representative continued.
The e-cigarette numbers are an estimate since several states - 109 in all, and several in African and Southeast Asia - do not gather data.
Per the study, as of February this year, at least 86 million e-cigarette users were adults, mostly in high-income nations.
And at minimum 15 million teenagers between the ages of 13 and 15 already use e-cigarettes, per research from 123 countries.
Although several countries have made efforts to introduce e-cigarette regulations to tackle underage vaping in the past few years, by the conclusion of 2024, 62 nations yet had no policy in effect, and 74 states had no age limit at which e-cigarettes are allowed to be acquired, states the public health authority.
At the same time, tobacco use has been decreasing - from an approximated 1.38 billion users in 2000 to 1.2 billion in 2024.
Frequency of tobacco usage among women fell the greatest - from 11% in 2010 to 6.6% in 2024.
For males, the decrease was from 41.4% in 2010 to 32.5% in 2024.
But a fifth of mature individuals worldwide still uses tobacco.
Smoking is connected to several diseases, including cancer.
Specialists state vaping is considerably less harmful than cigarettes, and can assist you cease smoking. It is advised against for non-smokers.
Electronic cigarettes do not burn tobacco and do not produce resin or carbon monoxide, two of the most damaging substances in tobacco vapors. They have nicotine, which can be addictive.
