Young people in Britain are more likely to suffer from anxiety and loneliness if they vape.
This is according to a new study carried out by the University of Surrey.
Researchers looked at young people in England and found that vaping ‘significantly impacts sleep quality and anxiety levels’ in young adults.
The study was the first to assess the impact of vaping on loneliness and rumination – the act of repetitive thinking and dwelling on negative feelings. It found that both were more common in the young adults who vaped.
Anxiety symptoms
Dr Simon Evans is a study author and a neuroscience lecturer at the University of Surrey.
He said: ‘Vaping impacts all areas of physical and mental health.
‘Poor sleep not only affects a young person’s daily functioning but, over the longer term, increases the risk of developing heart disease and diabetes.
‘We found a disturbing link between vape use and anxiety symptoms, and it can become a vicious cycle of using a vape to soothe anxiety but then being unable to sleep, making you feel worse in the long run.’
The study could not determine causation. However researchers suggested that people with anxiety may be more likely to ‘self-medicate’ using vapes.
They added that moves to improve mindfulness, and reduce rumination and loneliness, may also make young people less likely to turn to vaping.
Higher tax
This comes as chancellor Jeremy Hunt is expected to announce a new tax on vaping at this week’s; budget.
This is because the government is concerned that the low cost of vapes makes them more accessible to young people and non-smokers.
It is believed that the vaping tax will be paid on imports and by manufacturers. It will also be levied on the liquid in vapes, meaning products with more nicotine will have a higher level of tax.
The proposed tax is modelled on 15 similar levies across Europe, with the European Commission planning to implement a minimum level vaping levy across the EU.
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