48% of children vaping are under 11 years old
09/18/2024
- One in seven children have been caught vaping (14%)
- Half of children (48%) caught vaping are under 11 years old
- Of these children that vape, 13% of parents believe they do so on a daily basis
- Four out of ten parents (40%) hope the Government’s impending Tobacco and Vape bill will help curb youth vaping
- But many (34%) would welcome a national public awareness campaign educating people on how to safely dispose of single-use vapes
Children buying vapes at school is a key concern for parents and teachers in the new academic year, as children as young as eight years old are buying and selling disposable vapes on school premises, according to Zurich Municipal.
New research among 1,000 UK parents (with children aged 5 to 17) reveals that one in seven children (14%) have been caught vaping. More alarmingly, this isn’t just a problem among secondary school-aged children as around half of parents (48%) whose children have been caught vaping were under 11 years old.
Almost two fifths (38%) of those that have been caught vaping actually bought them from friends at school. This is the most common way underage children who have been caught vaping are getting their hands on vapes, behind taking them from family members (32%), buying them online (29%) or using a fake ID to buy vapes in shops (22%).
Even if children aren’t looking to buy vapes at school, they are getting access to them. One in five parents (19%) who have children that have been caught vaping say they found disposable vapes at school - whether it’s on the playground or in the toilets.
Children aren’t just being caught in the act. Of those who have children that have been caught vaping, three in ten parents (29%) say they have found disposable vapes in their bedroom and nearly one in five (17%) have found devices in their child’s school bag.
Schools are tackling vaping problem head on, but parents want more help
At the start of the new academic year, teachers are just as concerned as parents about children vaping and are tackling the problem head on. A fifth of parents (20%) are happy schools have adequate procedures in place to detect vaping, compared to just 8% last year2.
Likewise, many parents say that their child’s school is increasingly communicating with pupils about the dangers of vaping (26% in 2024, compared to 10% in 2023).
Teachers are also cracking down on those illegally selling vapes at school. One in seven parents (15%) say their child has been suspended for selling vapes during school time and a further one in eight (13%) have been expelled for dealing vapes on school premises.
Despite these efforts, half of parents (51%) would like to see schools do more to raise awareness about the dangers of vaping.
Dangerous devices
While vaping has been linked to health problems, disposable devices can also be dangerous as they contain lithium-ion batteries which can ignite and spark a fire if they are not stored or disposed of correctly.
One in three (34%) parents have spoken to their child about how vaping may impact their health, however, worryingly only 7% of parents have discussed how children should dispose of vapes safely if they use or find them.
Amy Brettell, Manager Director at Zurich Municipal, commented: “Vaping has become a huge problem in schools in recent years and is now another challenge for teachers to tackle as we start a new academic year.
"Teachers have an important role to play in educating children about the health risks associated with vaping, so it’s great to see more schools are doing this. However, some young people will be unaware that some of these devices can be dangerous and start fires if they’re stored or discarded incorrectly. We would encourage schools to talk to children about this, especially as a lot of children may be hiding vapes and doing so in unsafe places."
Parents welcome the new Tobacco and Vape Bill
Two fifths of parents (40%) welcome the Government’s new Tobacco and Vape Bill that will phase out the sale of tobacco and curb youth vaping. However, a third (34%) would also like to see a national public awareness campaign educating people on how to safely dispose of single-use vapes.
Mira Osinibi, Clinical Paediatric Respiratory Nurse Specialist comments: “The biggest problem I’m seeing, particularly in my role as a paediatric respiratory nurse, is that vaping addiction in young people sits side by side with the time spent scrolling on social media. Many scroll on socials into the early hours whilst using their vape. This means the amount of time spent vaping is far higher than they were ever designed to be used for.
“It’s not as simple as telling young people to stop as many are already addicted. Access has to be limited to stop these younger children falling into the same trap. This is something the Government has to tackle with a real sense of urgency. Whilst they smell nice and they don’t make these young addicts cough, they’re very much an unwelcome addition to children’s lives.”
Colin Stitt, Head of Safer Schools at Ineqe Safeguarding Group, said: "This research is a stark warning: we must urgently safeguard our children and young people from the health risks and social harms of vaping. Banning sales and use is just the first step. We need far stronger action to curb the promotion of these products and restrict access to them, both online and offline."
"We call on the government to take decisive action and urge educators, parents, carers, and community members to educate children about the risks of vaping. Open, honest, and non-judgemental conversations at home and school can dispel myths, empower young people to make informed choices, and minimise the influence of peers."
Vaping vigilance tips
Parents or teachers concerned about children vaping can visit Zurich Municipal’s partner and safeguarding experts, Ineqe, offer the following tips:
- Be observant. Keep an eye on a young person’s behaviour. It’s also helpful to know who they hang out with and if vaping is a regular part of hang outs.
- Don’t panic. If you discover a young person in your care is vaping or has tried it, it is important to approach them calmly and avoid confrontation.
- Ask questions. Make sure you get your facts straight by asking questions, such as, “Have you ever tried vaping?” or “What do you like about vaping?”
- Listen to them. Rather than reacting in anger or disappointment, put your focus on them and give them space to open up to you without judgement.
- Talk it out. Sharing useful facts and resources with them might help you explain your concerns, while allowing you to talk about negative influences.
- Use safety settings. Make sure the correct privacy and safety settings are working on your young person’s online accounts, including safety filters.
- Lead by example. It’s important to outline the difference between those who vape to help quit smoking and those who vape recreationally – including yourself and any other adults they may know. If you vape, do what you can to avoid vaping in front of the young person, and make sure to answer any questions they may have.
- Seek professional help. If a child or young person in your care is vaping and you are concerned, speak to a healthcare professional.
