TEEN vaping is a gateway to heavy drinking and smoking fags and weed, according to research.
British experts reviewed results from 56 studies of the impacts of taking up e-cigarettes at a young age.
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Millions of under-18s in the UK vape, with one in five having tried it and an estimated one in 25 kids aged 11 to 17 – four per cent – doing it regularly.
For comparison, an estimated eight per cent of 16 and 17-year-olds smoke cigarettes, according to figures Action on Smoking and Health.
New vaping laws have been brought in to try and protect youngsters by imposing age limits, banning disposable devices and cracking down on fruit and candy flavours.
The research, led by the University of York and published in the journal Tobacco Control, found young people who use e-cigs are consistently shown to be more likely to take up real smoking when they grow up.
On average the risk appeared to be three times higher than in kids who did not vape.
There are also signs they are more likely to turn to other habits like smoking weed.
There was an almost 6-fold higher risk using cannabis, and between a 4.5 and 7-fol higher risk of binge drinking alcohol.
Risks of health conditions
Results further suggest young vapers might suffer deadly pneumonia, bronchitis, dizziness, migraines, and low sperm count.
Asthma was the most common respiratory health outcome, with a 20 to 36 per cent heightened risks of being diagnosed with the condition.
Three studies showed a link between vaping and suicidal outcomes.
Study author Dr Greg Hartwell, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: “Our review provides the most comprehensive picture to date on the risks vaping poses to young people.
“In particular, we found consistent evidence around transitions to smoking which, in turn, opens the door to the multitude of harms that conventional cigarettes bring.”
Health officials insist vaping is safer than smoking tobacco because it does not contain tar or the same cancer-causing chemicals found in cigs, making it a good quitting aid.
But evidence increasingly suggests it is not risk-free and should not be used by people who never smoked in the first place.
Professor Su Golder, from the University of York, said: “The consistency in the evidence is striking.
“Across multiple studies, young people who use e-cigarettes are more likely to smoke in the future.
“These findings support stronger public health measures to protect teens from the risks associated with vaping.”
Dr Stephen Burgess, from Cambridge University, was not part of the study but added: “Whether vaping is truly a cause of these behaviours is beyond the scope of this data.”
The 4 horrifying things that can happen to your body after vaping
VAPES were once hailed as miracle devices to help adults ditch cigarettes.
But while the devices don’t carry the same risks as tobacco, experts have warned that vaping might not be so harmless after all.
Here are five ways vaping could damage young users bodies:
1. It could slow down brain development
Vaping nicotine can permanently affect brain development in people under the age of 25, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
It said that nicotine consumed during teenage years can harm the parts of the brain that control attention, learning, mood, and impulse control, as well as increase the risk of addiction.
2. It could lead to tooth decay
Dr Michael Heffernan, a dentist at The Wessex Dental Specialist Care, said most vapes contain dangerous chemical that can harm your teeth and lead to decay.
Puffing on the devices could also lead to mouth dryness, creating an environment in which harmful bacteria can grow.
3. It could damage heart health
However, some of the chemicals found in vapes can be damaging to the heart, with the American Heart Association (AHA) stating that vaping is “as harmful to the body’s cardiovascular systems as cigarettes”.
4. It could cause lung disease
Vaping from a young age could leave children with breathing difficulties, with paediatric respiratory consultant Dr Mike McKean saying he’d seen reports of people developing lung disease related to vaping.
Researchers from the US also found that young people who vape are more at risk of bronchitis, inflammation of the airways, and shortness of breath.
Read more on how vaping can affect your health here.
