By Robbie Gray

Experts say, “The problem is its new in young people and we don’t really understand the consequences”.

The UK Government has all but decided to ban vapes nationwide. This was spurred on by a rise in childhood addiction. All is good and well one might think, kids won’t be poisoning themselves with these devices, about which we know very little . One thing the government hasn’t touched on is the issue of entering cold turkey. 

As of right now there is no sector of the NHS or any private company that offers support to kids quitting vaping. According to the Action on Smoking and Health Organisation, 20% of kids in the UK vape as of 2023, which attributes to about 2 million children. This could be a major problem if all these kids suddenly aren’t able to legally get a hold of vapes. This means they will need to acquire them illegally which brings with it crime or quit, going cold turkey. 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-12715223/How-kids-age-TEN-hospitalised-vaping.html

Roy Robertson, a professor of addiction medicine at the University of Edinburgh, an academic with over 40 years of experience in the field said: “The very worst possibility is it could cause a long-term addiction problem.

“There is a scientific group that agrees that it (addiction) is an irreversible brain change.

“What we have to work on is that it is a behavioural pattern that can be reversed.

“We just don’t know about vaping but as far as withdrawal symptoms there are bound to be adverse reactions”.

Robert Stewart, a family support worker with Stirling Council with an expertise in child social work, said: “I’ve worked with a number of families with kids and young adults that vape mainly from the ages of upper primary school to first and second year.

“The kids will have some sort of addiction to vape itself.

“Because of the age range of the children that we’re talking about, a lot of them will be going through their final brain development so this could have a negative impact on that as well as their growth, health and mental health.

“We don’t really know the affect vapes have on the body as they are fairly new.

“There’s not really support for kids with addictions… we don’t know the affect the vapes will have so their needs to be the support there as there is with adults”.

It seems that the future is shrouded in questions. Due to a lack of research and support, there is a high chance there could be a rise in mental and physical health problems in children because of the ban of their precious vapes. When will the government catch on? Well based on their track record probably too late, or maybe they will provide support in due time, only time will tell.