The number of adults using vapes has increased by more than 4.5% in two years, new research has found.
The study was led by University College London and funded by Cancer Research UK. Published in Public Health, it looked at survey responses from almost 70,000 adults in England, Wales and Scotland between January 2021 and August 2023.
The researchers found the proportion of adults using disposable e-cigarettes rose from 0.1% to 4.9% during that period.
Increase in levels
The increase was particularly pronounced among 18 to 24 year olds, with 14.4% using disposable vapes in 2023.
The increase stands at 16.3% among smokers and 18.2% for people who had stopped smoking in the past year.
Use among people who had never regularly smoked was relatively rare (1.5%) but was higher among 18 to 24 year olds, of whom 7.1% used disposable e-cigarettes and had never regularly smoked tobacco.
Unintended consequences
Lead author Dr Sarah Jackson (UCL Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care), said: ‘Our study suggests a ban on disposable e-cigarettes would affect an estimated 2.6 million people in England, Wales and Scotland.
‘This group includes about 316,000 18 to 24 year olds who currently use disposables but who have never regularly smoked tobacco.
‘However, it also includes 1.2 million people who currently smoke and would benefit from switching to e-cigarettes completely, and a further 744,000 who previously smoked and may be at risk of relapse.
‘While banning disposables might seem like a straightforward solution to reduce youth vaping, it could have substantial unintended consequences for people who smoke.
‘In the event of a ban, it would be important to encourage current and ex-smokers who use disposables to switch to other types of e-cigarettes rather than going back to just smoking tobacco.
‘In addition, we found disposable use to be particularly prevalent among recent ex-smokers with a history of mental health conditions. This group may require targeted support to help them avoid relapse.’
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