Bid to counter 'dramatic rise' in vaping by young people

NEW SERVICE BEING LAUNCHED

- By JOE LOCKER Local democracy reporter

A NEW service to help support children and young people to stop vaping is being set up in Nottingham amid a “dramatic rise” in their use.

Nottingham City Council says even though it is illegal to sell vapes to anyone under the age of 18, their use among children and young people has “risen dramatically in recent years”.

The authority says the risks include vapes being highly addictive due to nicotine content, while their use during adolescence can lead to dependency and affect brain development, interfering with emotional regulation, attention span, and increasing the risk of mental health conditions.

A survey conducted across five city schools in 2023 revealed 17 percent of 12 to 15 year olds had tried vaping, with rates increasing further with age.