Alarming Statistics of Users Now Use E-Cigarettes, Warns Global Health Body
More than 100 million users, featuring at least 15 million youth, now employ e-cigarettes, driving a fresh wave of nicotine addiction, per current global public health data.
Minors are, typically, nine times more prone than grown-ups to vape, based on existing international statistics.
Vaping devices are fueling a "new wave" of nicotine addiction, commented a prominent health representative. "These devices are advertised as damage limitation but, actually, are ensnaring children on nicotine earlier and threaten weakening years of progress."
Teens Being 'Focused On'
"Numerous of people are ceasing, or avoiding tobacco consumption because of tobacco restriction initiatives by nations across the globe," the official said.
"As a reaction to this strong improvement, the tobacco business is resisting with new nicotine devices, actively aiming at adolescents. Governments must take action more rapidly and stronger in applying established tobacco-control regulations," the representative continued.
The vaping figures are a projection since numerous countries - 109 in sum, and numerous in African and South-East Asia - do not gather data.
Based on the report, as of February this year, at bare minimum 86 million e-cigarette users were grown-ups, primarily in wealthy countries.
And at least 15 million teenagers between the ages of 13 and 15 presently use e-cigarettes, according to surveys from 123 nations.
While many nations have attempted to implement e-cigarette policies to combat underage vaping in recent years, by the close of 2024, 62 nations still had no measure in place, and 74 countries had no age limit at which e-cigarettes are allowed to be bought, states the health authority.
Meanwhile, tobacco usage has been declining - from an projected 1.38 billion consumers in 2000 to 1.2 billion in 2024.
Prevalence of tobacco use among women decreased the largest - 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.
Tobacco use is linked to numerous illnesses, including cancer.
Professionals say vaping is far less damaging than cigarettes, and can help you quit smoking. It is not recommended for individuals who avoid tobacco.
Vaping devices do not burn tobacco and do not create resin or carbon monoxide, a pair of the most harmful components in tobacco smoke. They include nicotine, which may be dependency-creating.
