One in five young people in Trafford has tried e-cigarettes
New vaping support agreed for Trafford schools as survey shows one in five young people has tried e-cigarettes
A new report from Healthwatch and Trafford Council’s Public Health Team reveals young people’s experiences of vaping.
Now vaping awareness sessions and other help in Trafford schools will be extended to try to steer under 18s away from harmful e-cigarettes.
Health officials surveyed children and young people as well as their parents and carers for a major survey, The Vaping Habits of Children and Young People in Trafford, garnering almost 6,000 responses.
It found around one-fifth of children and young people, from as young as 10, have either tried vaping or do so on a regular basis. However, of those who do vape, many want to cut down or quit.
Key findings of the survey include:
81 per cent of children and young people said they do not vape and have never tried it, yet 5% claim to vape on a regular basis.
42 per cent of children and young people who currently vape are planning to either cut down or stop vaping or are already trying to do so.
55.3 per cent of young vapers said their first vape is before 9am with 31.6% vaping in bed when they first wake up.
70.8 per cent who vape claimed they would still vape if sweet/berry/candy flavour vapes didn’t exist anymore.
29.4 per cent of respondents stated their friends vape and/or smoke – with vaping being four times more popular than smoking amongst their friends. More than a quarter live with a relative who vapes and/or smokes.
Under 11 was the most common age for first trying a vape.
4.2 per cent have tried or use snus or nicotine pouches, with 1.2 per cent using snus daily.
Trafford Health and Wellbeing Board has given Trafford Local Care Organisation’s school nurses and drug and alcohol charity for young people, Early Break, the go-ahead to continue vaping awareness sessions in schools for a second year.
Qualified school nurses and representatives of Early Break will talk to children in primary and secondary schools in groups and one-to-one. Webinars for families and school staff are also planned.
Cllr Jane Slater, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Healthy and Independent Lives, said: “These figures are very troubling, and I’m pleased that we have been able to give the green light to continued awareness-raising and help from under 18s and their families in the borough.
“We’re working hard with our partners in the NHS and charity sector to turn this trend around and it’s encouraging that 42 per cent of young vapers want to cut down or stop.”
Cllr Slater continues: “We are also working to educate more people on the differences between regulated and unregulated vapes, which can be stronger and more harmful to health.”
Andrew Latham, Chief Officer at Healthwatch Trafford, said: “We know that vaping among children and young people is a concern for many members of the public and we hope that our findings will support ongoing efforts at raising awareness within Trafford.
“We also hope that wider attention is paid to the lack of information available about unregulated vapes; this information is crucial in improving the education of children, young people, parents and carers, and professionals alike.”
Potential health risks of vaping include increased blood pressure and heart rate, narrowing arteries, stress, poor brain development, infections, seizures and lung disease.
Children and families can ask for help directly from school nurses in the borough or Early Break at info@earlybreak.co.uk or 0161 723 3880. If people encounter the sale of illegal vapes, the Council urges them to report it anonymously via Keep It Out.
