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As South Africa grapples with a public health challenge that could develop into a national crisis, researchers from the University of Cape Town (UCT) are raising concerns over the skyrocketing rates of vaping among adolescents, Cape {town} Etc reports.
They are urging the government to urgently enact the Tobacco Products & Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill, which aims to regulate vaping products and protect youth from the clutches of nicotine addiction.
This call to action follows a groundbreaking study the largest of its kind in South Africa conducted by UCT in collaboration with Utrecht University in the Netherlands.
The findings, recently published in The Lancet’s eClinical Medicine, surveyed 25,000 students across 52 fee-paying high schools nationwide, shedding light on the astonishing prevalence, underlying motivations, and addiction-related behaviours linked to teen vaping.
Co-author of the study and member of UCT’s Research Unit on the Economics of Exercisable Products, Samantha Filby remarked that, ‘In South Africa, where notable progress has been made in tobacco control, the rapid increase in vaping among adolescents poses a new public health challenge.
‘The urgency of our investigation was further spurred by global warnings, including the World Health Organization’s critique of e-cigarette promotions targeting youth, along with a critical gap in local knowledge.’
Teen vaping by the numbers
Until now, comprehensive data on the prevalence of teen vaping in South Africa has been alarmingly sparse. The UCT-led study has filled this crucial information void, unveiling deeply troubling trends:
- Nearly 17% of respondents reported current use of vapes.
- Among these users, over 38% vape daily.
- More than 50% of current users vape four or more days a week.
- A staggering 88% of teen vapers consumed nicotine-containing products.
Furthermore, the research sought to explore signs of addiction among adolescent users:
- Nearly half (47%) of the teen vapers admitted to using their devices within an hour of waking—a strong indicator of nicotine dependence.
- 11.8% reported an inability to get through the school day without vaping.
- Almost 25% confessed to feelings of anxiety or anger if deprived of their vaping device for extended periods.
‘We developed a novel vape dependence score to quantify addiction levels among users. Shockingly, 60% of sampled adolescent vapers scored as highly dependent, reinforcing the urgent need for enhanced prevention strategies,’ Filby said.
A new kind of epidemic
Professor Richard van Zyl-Smit, the lead author of the study, underscored the unprecedented nature of nicotine dependence revealed in these findings. “The level of dependence we observed far exceeds what has been documented with traditional cigarette use among teens,” he noted.
Tackling the ‘dangerous’ myth of safe vaping
To stem the tide of this burgeoning epidemic, UCT researchers emphasised the critical need for early education about the dangers of vaping. ‘Addressing this crisis is achievable through the right interventions.
‘We must dispel the insidious myth that vaping is harmless,’ insisted Filby.
She champions the necessity of basic education on the hazards of vaping, starting at the primary school level, conveying unequivocal messages that vaping is addictive and poses health risks. For those already trapped in nicotine addiction, the provision of tailored psychosocial support becomes essential.
However, Filby cautioned that education alone will not suffice. ‘Comprehensive regulation is vital,’ she stated.
‘This includes banning advertisements targeting youth and enforcing age restrictions to diminish appeal and availability. Vaping products are alarmingly accessible, often purchasable via mainstream delivery apps like Checkers Sixty60 or UberEats.
‘The restrictions outlined in the Tobacco Control Bill could play a crucial role in dispelling the myth of safe vaping and help deglamourise it for our youth,’
The researchers advocate for an engaged approach involving schools, parents, and healthcare professionals to effectively combat this growing crisis.
‘We aim to galvanise action, pushing lawmakers to regulate vaping and equipping schools, parents, and the public health community with the necessary knowledge to intervene,
‘We must shift public perception and recognise that we are on the brink of a public health crisis that must be urgently addressed,’ Filby concluded.
Also read:
Suffocating planet! The environmental implications of the vaping industry
Picture: Supplied
Source: UCT News
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