“Tens of Thousands” of children need help to quit vaping, expert warns
Calls grow for urgent support to help as thousands of children quit vaping one month after disposable ban.
A leading children’s health expert is calling for urgent action to support young people addicted to vaping — as the UK marks one month since the ban on disposable vapes tomorrow (July 1st).
Professor Rachel Isba, a paediatrician at Alder Hey and professor at Lancaster University, says there could be tens of thousands of children across the country who want to quit but have nowhere to turn for help.
She set up the UK’s first children’s vape clinic and says more services are needed now — not later.
“This is a problem now. There are probably tens of thousands of nicotine-dependent children and young people out there.”
“We can’t wait for the evidence base, but we can be savvy about the way in which we deliver the services. That will then inform the development of the evidence base."
The government’s ban on disposable vapes came into effect last month, with more legislation on the way aimed at creating the UK’s first smoke-free generation. But Professor Isba says the ban alone won’t solve the issue.
"It is a piece of the puzzle. I don't think it's going to solve the issue.
"It will be very interesting over the coming months and years to see how young people adapt to the inaccessibility of disposable vapes.
"My concern as a paediatrician is that there is this population of children and young people who want to stop vaping, many of whom will be nicotine dependent, and I think that we need to do something to support them and I feel that that's a missing piece of the puzzle at the minute."
She says many young people know vaping is harming their health and are actively looking for ways to stop — and that adults have a duty to help them do so.
“If a young person realises they’re doing something that’s not good for them, we should be providing a service to support them.”
Professor Isba’s clinic is already helping young people cut down or quit altogether — but she says more support is urgently needed across the country.