The government is supporting a new research initiative aimed at assessing the long-term consequences of vaping among adolescents while simultaneously initiating an anti-vaping campaign targeting teenagers.
This research will follow 100,000 young individuals over a period of ten years.
Participants will be observed from the age of eight until they turn 18, gathering health-related information and monitoring their overall wellbeing and various behaviors.
The comprehensive effects of vaping remain largely uncharted. Officials express optimism that the study, funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), will yield the most thorough insights into its long-term effects on youth.
Additionally, two other fresh studies will collect the latest findings in vaping investigations.
Public health minister Ashley Dalton commented: “We acknowledge that vaping can be an effective aid for quitting smoking, but it is imperative that we acquire concrete evidence regarding its long-term health risks, particularly for young individuals.”
“This pivotal series of studies, alongside our inaugural nationwide youth vaping initiative, will facilitate evidence-driven, impactful measures to safeguard our children’s future.”
The YouTube and Instagram initiative, dubbed Love Your Lungs, will feature influencers like Big Manny appealing to teenagers aged 13 to 18.
This marks the first nationwide effort across England aimed at educating youths about vaping and the risks of nicotine addiction, as stated by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).
The department has also produced a video illustrating a woman in a toxic relationship, only to reveal that her ‘partner’ is her vape.
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Sarah Sleet, the chief executive of Asthma and Lung UK, stated: “The increasing number of non-smokers, particularly the youth demographic, embracing vaping is deeply concerning.”
“The long-term consequences of vaping on lung health remain uncertain, making this research into its effects on young people incredibly vital.”
