More details on government’s youth vaping study revealed

As first reported yesterday, the government is about to set out on a study of the impacts of vaping on the young.

Now, more details have been revealed, signalling that the groundbreaking research will investigate the long-term health effects of vaping on children, supporting major plans to tackle youth vaping and create a smoke-free generation.

The £62 million research project into adolescent health, funded by UK Research and Innovation, will track 100,000 young people aged 8- to 18 years over a whole decade, collecting data on behaviour, biology and health records to understand what affects young people’s health and wellbeing, including the impact of vaping.

While vaping is less harmful than smoking and can be a useful tool to help adult smokers quit, youth vaping has skyrocketed in recent years, with a quarter of 11- to 15-year-olds having tried it.

The research coincides with the upcoming Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which will clamp down on youth vaping by limiting any flavours, packaging and displays deliberately designed to appeal to children.

The study is one of three sets of research being commissioned by the government, alongside the launch of England’s first ever public health marketing campaign to educate children on vaping harms.

The long-term health impacts of youth vaping are not fully known, and this comprehensive approach will provide the most detailed picture yet, giving health carers and policymakers the robust evidence they need to protect the next generation from the potential health risks.

Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Ashley Dalton, said: “It’s crucial we have clear evidence on the long-term health harms, especially for young people. This series of studies, combined with our first nationwide youth vaping campaign, will help drive evidence-based, decisive action to protect our children’s future.

“Through bold preventative measures such as the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, this government will deliver on our Plan for Change to build healthier lives and save our broken NHS.”

Funded through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the second set of groundbreaking research will see University College London produce yearly updates capturing the latest vaping research from both the UK and international sources. Separately, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine will conduct the most comprehensive analysis of youth vaping studies to date, also funded by NIHR.

At the same time, the government is rolling out its first-ever nationwide campaign to inform young people about the hidden health dangers of vaping. The campaign, Love Your Lungs, exposes the harms of vaping and nicotine addiction, highlighting that with their lungs and brains still developing, young people are more vulnerable to health risks. Aimed at 13- to 18-year-olds, it will roll out primarily on social media, using influencers to speak directly to a younger audience.

Campaign Group We Vape has also urged retailers to fill in a survey which it will present to the government in advance of the upcoming changes.