Why are NICHS running this campaign?

Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke are a charity. A large part of our work focuses on preventing chest, heart and stroke illnesses by empowering individuals to learn about potential risk factors that could cause these illnesses so that they can make healthy choices.

We have had an extreme uptake in demand from schools, sports clubs and youth clubs approaching us in search of support with information and talks to inform students and young people about the potential risks of vaping. Our experience is that parents, teachers and others who work with young people are very concerned about the number of young people who are vaping.

In Northern Ireland:

• 21% of 11-16 year olds have used an e-cigarette at least once.
• Those in the older year groups were more likely to report ever having used, with findings ranging from 6% of those in Year 8 to 44% of those in Year 12.
• E-cigarette usage is rising in teenagers - Year 12s currently using e-cigarettes increased from 10% in 2016 to 24% in 2022
• The proportion classed as regular e-cigarette users (using e-cigs once a week) increased from 6% to 17% in the same time period.

UK Data and other studies have also shown:

• 29.6% of people aged 18 years old using some form of e-cigarette/vape
• Over the year 2021-22, the use of disposable vapes has risen from 0.89% to 56.7%
• If you’ve vaped before you are 14 years old, you are 5 times more likely to have tried cigarettes by the age of 17 years old and you are 3 times more likely to be a frequent smoker by 17 years old

Currently, the long-term health implications of regular vaping are unknown - just as they once were with tobacco.There is a growing concern for NICHS, the Public Health Agency (PHA) and our partners, including schools, about the increasing numbers of young people who are vaping. Further action and awareness is required to educate young people and their families about the dangers of vaping.

There is also early emerging evidence and increasing concerns about the risks of vaping to our health, particularly with regard to cardiovascular and respiratory illness.

We have launched this pre-cautionary campaign as we are concerned about the increasing number of the population who are taking up vaping, particularly young people whose health may be vulnerable as their bodies are still developing.

We are worried that vaping could just be linked to future heart attacks, strokes and respiratory illness. This is why we have taken the decisive action now to advise the public not to vape.

We believe that vaping should be avoided, except when being used by existing smokers as a means to stop smoking. In these cases, the person should only use vapes as a short-term measure, for no more than twelve weeks and supported by a recognised behavioural change programme to stop smoking.

But there is no evidence that vaping is bad for your health?

It is correct that there is not currently enough evidence to prove what the long-term health implications of regular vaping might be.

The long term effects are still unknown – just as they once were with tobacco.

There is emerging evidence and increasing concerns about the risks of vaping particularly with regard to cardiovascular and respiratory illness.

Our belief is that prevention is better than cure and that we would rather take decisive action today to advise people not to vape based on this emerging evidence and prevent potential illness in their future.

In addition, the negative health implications of nicotine are well researched and documented. Most vapes contain nicotine which is highly addictive. Nicotine has been proven to have long lasting damaging effects on the development of the brain and to increase heart rate and blood pressure.

Many vapes and e-cigarettes are accompanied by warning labels which read:

“Toxic if swallowed. Fatal in contact with skin. May cause an allergic skin reaction. Harmful if inhaled.’.”

The long-term health implications of vaping are unknown - just as they once were with tobacco. Some organisations suggest that e-cigarettes are less harmful to health than smoking, but also recognise that the long-term effects of using e-cigarettes “vaping” are not yet fully known.

The biggest misunderstanding about vapes is that they are harmless compared to cigarettes,

Vapes do not contain some of the harmful ingredients which are included in cigarettes, however that does not mean they are completely without risk or free from harmful chemicals.

Vapes can contain some of the same harmful chemicals found in cleaning products, nail polish remover, weed killer and bug spray.

The safest option for your health is to not smoke tobacco products at all - If you do smoke, the safest and most effective way to stop is with the support of a Stop Smoking service which can provide ongoing support and advice as well as regulated, licensed nicotine replacement therapy, if required. (see www.stopsmokingni.info to find your nearest service)

If you choose to use e-cigarettes as a means of stopping smoking, we would advise that you still seek the support of a Stop Smoking service.

I am using vaping to give up smoking, is this okay?

We recognise that existing smokers may use e-cigarettes to try and cut down or quit smoking. However, existing smokers who want to use vapes to assist with stopping smoking should only use vapes as a short-term measure, for no more than twelve weeks and supported by a recognised behavioural change programme currently approved by the Public Health Agency to give up smoking. If you choose to use e-cigarettes as a means of stopping smoking, we would advise that you still seek the support of a Stop Smoking service

Visit www.stopsmokingni.info for more information on stop smoking services and support.

What does ‘Don’t Smoke? Don’t Vape!’ mean?

In non-smokers, e-cigarettes may create a nicotine addiction therefore, the safest option for people who have never smoked, or ex-smokers, is to not use e-cigarettes or tobacco-based cigarettes. ‘Don’t Smoke! & Don’t Vape!’

We recommend that those using vapes to quit smoking should aim to stop vaping after 12 weeks and not continue to vape indefinitely.

If you do not already smoke and are not using vapes as a tool to quit smoking, you should not take up vaping.

If you don’t smoke, there is no reason to use vapes!

Are only nicotine based vapes bad for you?

There is more established research that shows the potential negative health impacts of nicotine based vapes, as nicotine itself is highly addictive and can long lasting damaging effects on the development of the brain and increase heart rate and blood pressure. This is why our campaign is largely based on nicotine vapes.

However there is not currently enough evidence to prove what the long term health implications of regular vaping of any kind of vape might be. The impact of vaping on people’s health in the long term is still unknown – just as they once were with tobacco. However, there is emerging evidence and increasing concerns about the risks of vaping particularly with regard to cardiovascular and respiratory illness.

Our belief is that prevention is better than cure and that we would rather take decisive action today to advise people not to vape based on this emerging evidence, and prevent potential illness in their future.

Many vapes and e-cigerettes are accompanied by warning labels which read:

“Toxic if swallowed. Fatal in contact with skin. May cause an allergic skin reaction. Harmful if inhaled.

Are the any vaping cessation or support services in NI?

The Public Health Agency (PHA) commissions a smoking cessation and prevention programme, Smoke Busters for children and young people which includes the harms linked to vaping. The PHA is hoping to develop a new support service and supporting resources.

The Young Persons Behaviour & Attitudes Survey 2022: Substance Use (Smoking, Alcohol & Drugs) bulletin was published online this morning at: https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/news/young-persons-behaviour-attitudes-survey-2022-substance-use-smoking-alcohol-drugs

E-Cig & respiratory health, 2020, The Journal of Physiology - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3543069/

https://e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov/knowtherisks.html

https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/Quick-Facts-on-the-Risks-of-E-cigarettes-for-Kids-Teens-and-Young-Adults.html

Adolescent E-Cig use & tobacco smoking in the Millenium Cohort Study, J. Staff et al 2021, Addiction.

Rapid Growth in disposable e-cig vaping among young adults in GB from 2021-22: A repeat cross sectional study. H. Tatton-Birch et al. 2022, UCL

Adolescent E-Cig use & tobacco smoking in the Millenium Cohort Study, J. Staff et al 2021, Addiction

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/5-truths-you-need-to-know-about-vaping

Is it illegal to sell or buy vapes for young people?

Yes, it is. Following the introduction of legislation in Northern Ireland, it is an offence for any shop to sell e-cigarettes / vapes to young people under the age of 18 years. It is also an offence for an adult to buy, or try to buy, any tobacco products or nicotine inhaling products (including e-cigarettes / vapes) on behalf of someone under the age of 18.