Worry over a rise in vaping amongst children in Darlington

Concerns have been raised over the increasing popularity of vaping among underage children after it has swept through shops and schools in Darlington, as the illegal market aims to capitalise on teenagers keen to try the latest trends.

Outside schools and colleges throughout the town pupils congregate on street corners puffing on the different flavours. Specialist shops selling vaping products have become a part of the norm – and while many are legitimate businesses, trading standards and enforcement teams have warned that some illegal traders are hiding in plain sight.

And now, parents are becoming increasingly worried that children are being targeted by brands, while social pressures are seeing more underage teenagers becoming addicted.

“My daughter is 15 and has been getting served with vapes for over a year in the local shops. I think she is addicted to them,” one mother, who did not give her name, said.

“I contacted the police about it and also went into the shops with a picture of my daughter to tell them not to serve her as she’s under age. I told the council the shops she was getting served at. One wasn’t even a newsagent/tobacconist, it was a sewing shop.”

While the government is exploring ways to tackle youth vaping, after being warned of the “alarming popularity” amongst young people, some feel that short term measures like increasing prices could be key, with one official noting: “we don’t want them to be available for pocket money prices”.

Darlington Council’s crackdown on the illegal trade has been one of its key enforcement priorities in 2023. Since January 1, tobacco and vape products with a retail value of over £70,000 have been seized from 14 Darlington premises.

This brings the combined retail value of products seized since late 2022 to over £149,000. Meanwhile, premises which are suspected of engaging in under-age sales of these products are under investigation.

There is a worry that criminals have now latched onto the market of illicit products to undercut legitimate goods, with a network of organised criminals operating in the background to feed the vaping issue. Enforcement teams currently rely on its own investigations, which include test purchases in stores, as well as tip offs from the public.

Vaping and e-cigarette products can reduce the harms of tobacco smoking in adults, but these products are not risk-free and there’s an alarming popularity for vaping amongst under 18s, even in primary-age children. And teachers too are now aware of the rising trend of vaping among pupils.

James Keating, head teacher at Hummersknott Academy, said: “We incorporate vaping and dangers of it into our life skills curriculum and also raise awareness through assembly as well in terms of health dangers and legality of vaping.”

Yet for all the education and information that is provided in schools, the elusivity of the illicit goods contrasted with attractive packaging and social media sites influencing children to try out the latest trends are a concern for parents.

“My daughter has never smoked, but got drawn to the bright colours in the shop windows and names/ tastes like bubblegum/ strawberry,” the mother added. “I think because they aren’t allowed to show cigarettes or promote smoking, vapes have become the new money maker, to target the new generation of children who otherwise would not smoke.

“I am well aware of the effects of smoking on overall and oral health and I feel more research is emerging all the time to warn of the dangers. I feel the vapes should be hidden away like cigarettes. I don’t think schools are prepared for the epidemic that we have on our hands.”

The advent of vaping among teenagers and young people continues to concern Darlington Council.

A spokesman said: “No one under the age of 18 should be vaping and this is why it is illegal to sell these products to people under the age of 18. Unfortunately there’s a small minority of under 18s who do use vapes and the council is working with partners and with young people themselves to develop strategies to reduce the use of vapes in young people.”

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