Dr Peter Moore: The dark side of vaping - addiction, danger and the need for regulation

Smoking is the only product which, when used correctly, kills a third of its users.

I’ve seen too many deaths from lung cancer and severe lung damage and so, I was delighted when vaping first appeared.

Here, I thought, was a new and innovative product which should help smokers give up.

Anyone addicted to nicotine will find it hard to stop. Although vaping is not risk free, it is safer than smoking.

I also assumed that vaping would only be used as a stepping stone to giving up completely.

The Government has now proposed to offer starter packs to up to one million UK smokers in an effort to reduce the percentage of smokers from 13 per cent to five per cent So, it should be good news.

Unfortunately, the manufactures had other ideas. Here was a highly addictive product which could make a considerable profit.

We needed a product which nicotine addicts would want to stop as soon as possible. Why were they marketed in over 40 flavours including bubble-gum, cherry, mango and watermelon? And why did they come in such bright colours?

Now phone shops, dry cleaners and even some hairdressers are cashing in on addictive vaping.

Although vaping is far safer than smoking and a good way to give up, for a non-smoker it is a risk to health.

Vaping works by heating a nicotine-containing liquid in an e-cigarette so that it is vapourised and inhaled.

As vaping is relatively new, the long-term side effects are not yet known. What we do know is they contain ultrafine particles which are inhaled deep into the lungs. Some of the flavouring such as diacetyl have been linked to serious lung disease and they contain heavy metals such as nickel, and tin. The vapour also contains formaldehyde and acetaldehyde.

A recent investigation looked at vapes confiscated from secondary children in the UK and found twice the safe levels of lead, which can affect brain development. The 'steam' produced by vaping is not only water vapour but contains many of these toxic chemicals.

But the largest danger comes from addiction to nicotine. This is highly addictive and the developing brain in a young person is more susceptible. Young people can become addicted with lower levels of nicotine than adults.

It is illegal to sell nicotine vapes to anyone under 18 but a study by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) found that the proportion of children between 11 and 17 using vapes has jumped from four per cent in 2020 to 16 per cent this year. A YouGov survey found 11.6 per cent of 11-to-17 year olds admitted vaping.

Influencers on social media, who target young people, glamorise vaping. Although the advertising standards authority prohibit advertising nicotine-based products to anyone under 18, many of these social media posts are not classified as advertising.

Are the influencers making money by encouraging dangerous and addictive products for children? Some get round the law by advertising vapes which do not contain nicotine knowing that these act as a gateway to nicotine vapes. And non-smokers who use nicotine vapes are three times more likely to start smoking.

We need to follow the lead set by Australia. Under new legislation, vaping products will no longer come in a variety of colours and flavours. They will only be available on prescription and only for therapeutic use. Non-prescription vapes will be banned and not be sold in the shops. They also plan to introduce import controls.

Before cigarette advertising was banned in the 1970s, it pushed the idea that smoking was macho. I remember one lecturer put up an advert of a tough man with a glamorous woman standing by a white horse. “If he carries on smoking, he won’t be able to ride either.”

It is time we followed Australia in making vapes prescription-only from the pharmacy and banning the flavours and bright colours. It is unacceptable that companies should make money from encouraging young people to use a highly addictive and dangerous drug.