The proportion of children in years 7 to 11 in Wales reporting vaping at least once a week rose to 7% in 2023, an increase from 5.4% in 2021 and 2.7% in 2019, according to figures from the School Health Research Network. The data shows that 19.6% of young people (aged 11 to 16) have tried vaping in Powys, slightly lower than the Welsh average of 20.4%.
Vaping is not recommended for use by children and young people, or anyone who has never smoked, as vaping is not without harm. In the short term, people may suffer from headaches, sore throats, dizziness, and coughs. Although vapes have been around for over 15 years, we simply do not have enough evidence to know what the long-term effects of vaping might be. Developing brains should not be exposed to nicotine, which poses a risk of addiction and dependence and potentially a gateway towards tobacco use.
There are many myths and misconceptions about the use of vapes, especially from children and young people. There are also examples of shops selling vapes as ‘nicotine free’ which actually contain high levels of nicotine.
Public Health Wales has produced an information and guidance resource on vaping for secondary-aged learners in Wales. The document provides data and evidence-based information for schools including how they can respond to and help address vaping within their setting through policy, practices, and curriculum content.