Secondary school students diagnosed with mental health issues such as depression are twice as likely to have vaped.
This is according to a new study conducted as part of the OurFutures vaping prevention program led by the University of Sydney’s Matilda Centre.
Out of the more than 5,000 students aged 12 to 14 who took part in the study, almost one in 10 (8.3%) reported having use e-cigarettes before. The Matilda Centre previously found the average age a teenager begins to vape is 14.
Findings from the study include:
- Vape use was also 74% higher for students who reported moderate stress and 64% higher for people who reported high levels of stress
- E-cigarette use was also 105% higher for students who reported low wellbeing compared to high wellbeing
- Anxiety symptoms were not associated with e-cigarette use.
Dr Lauren Gardner is co-leader of the OurFutures Vaping Trial with Professor Nicola Newton. She said: ‘There is a lack of data on the links between adolescent vaping and mental health, especially in the unique Australian context. It was important we addressed this as we are witnessing both vaping and mental ill-health increase among young people.
‘More research is needed to understand the complex relationship between mental health and vaping, however these findings highlight the urgent need for prevention and early intervention approaches, backed by evidence, to support both the short- and long-term health and wellbeing of young people.’
Ban on vape flavours
The British Medical Association (BMA) recently called for vapes to be sold behind the counter like cigarettes, as well as a ban on all flavours except tobacco.
It comes as recent statistics show that 5.6 million adults in Britain use e-cigarettes.
In a report published last week, the BMA urged ministers to introduce legislation to fight the ‘growing epidemic’ of vaping.
The number of e-cigarette users has grown from around 800,000 in 2012 to 5.6 million in 2024, according to statistics published by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH). Current vaping among 11 to 17-year-olds, which includes vaping less than once a month, is at 7.2%.
Recommendations made by the BMA include:
- Government education campaigns for the public on the dangers of vapes to reduce appeal, especially among children and young people
- Banning the commercial sale of all disposable vapes, on the grounds of disproportionate and harmful use by children and young people and their adverse impact on the environment
- Banning all non-tobacco vape flavours.
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