Alarming Number of Individuals Now Use E-Cigarettes, Warns Global Health Organization
Over 100 million users, featuring at least 15 million youth, presently employ e-cigarettes, fueling a new surge of nicotine addiction, per latest worldwide medical data.
Youth are, on average, nine times more prone than adults to engage in vaping, according to current global statistics.
Electronic cigarettes are driving a "new wave" of nicotine dependency, stated a senior health official. "These devices are marketed as risk reduction but, in reality, are hooking kids on nicotine at younger ages and threaten compromising generations of improvement."
Adolescents Being 'Targeted'
"Millions of citizens are stopping, or refraining from tobacco use thanks to tobacco regulation efforts by states across the planet," the representative said.
"In response to this significant advancement, the tobacco business is fighting back with new nicotine items, actively focusing on adolescents. Authorities must take action quicker and more vigorously in enacting proven tobacco-control regulations," he continued.
The vaping statistics are an approximation since numerous states - 109 in total, and many in African and Asian regions - lack data.
Based on the study, as of this past February this year, at least 86 million e-cigarette users were grown-ups, mostly in high-income nations.
And at least 15 million youth aged 13 and 15 currently engage in vaping, according to research from 123 nations.
While several countries have tried to introduce e-cigarette regulations to address underage vaping in recent years, by the close of 2024, 62 states still had no regulation in operation, and 74 countries had no age restriction at which e-cigarettes may be bought, reports the medical authority.
Meanwhile, tobacco consumption has been declining - from an approximated 1.38 billion individuals in 2000 to 1.2 billion in 2024.
Frequency of tobacco consumption among women fell the greatest - from 11% in 2010 to 6.6% in 2024.
Among males, the reduction was from 41.4% in 2010 to 32.5% in 2024.
But a fifth of mature individuals globally still employs tobacco.
Smoking is connected to many illnesses, like cancer.
Experts say vaping is considerably less damaging than tobacco products, and can help you quit smoking. It is not recommended for non-smokers.
Electronic cigarettes avoid burning tobacco and do not create black substance or CO, two of the most damaging substances in tobacco fumes. They have nicotine, which can be addictive.
