Worrying Figures of People Now Vape, States Global Health Organization
Over 100 hundred million users, comprising at minimum 15 million youth, currently utilize e-cigarettes, driving a new trend of nicotine habit, according to recent global health findings.
Youth are, on average, nine times more prone than grown-ups to use e-cigarettes, based on existing global data.
Vaping devices are driving a "recent wave" of nicotine habit, stated a prominent health expert. "They are promoted as damage limitation but, in reality, are addicting youth on nicotine earlier and risk undermining decades of improvement."
Young People Being 'Targeted'
"Numerous of people are stopping, or refraining from tobacco use due to tobacco restriction measures by nations across the planet," the official said.
"As an answer to this strong progress, the tobacco sector is pushing back with recent nicotine products, forcefully targeting youth. Administrations must respond faster and stronger in implementing proven tobacco-control policies," the official added.
The e-cigarette figures are an estimate since several countries - 109 in total, and several in African and Asian regions - lack statistics.
According to the analysis, as of this past February this year, at bare minimum 86 million e-cigarette individuals were grown-ups, mostly in developed nations.
And at bare minimum 15 million teenagers aged 13 and 15 already vape, according to studies from 123 nations.
Although several countries have made efforts to introduce e-cigarette policies to combat underage vaping in recent years, by the end of 2024, 62 countries yet had no policy in effect, and 74 countries had no minimum age at which e-cigarettes are allowed to be acquired, reports the health authority.
Meanwhile, tobacco usage has been dropping - from an estimated 1.38 billion consumers in 2000 to 1.2 billion in 2024.
Prevalence of tobacco use among females dropped the most - from 11% in 2010 to 6.6% in 2024.
With men, the decrease was from 41.4% in 2010 to 32.5% in 2024.
But a fifth of adults worldwide yet uses tobacco.
Smoking is connected to many illnesses, including cancer.
Professionals say vaping is considerably less damaging than tobacco products, and can aid you cease smoking. It is advised against for non-smokers.
E-cigarettes do not burn tobacco and do not produce black substance or CO, two of the most damaging substances in tobacco smoke. They include nicotine, which can be dependency-creating.