Vaping addiction: why the WHO raises the alarm among young people

An alarm about a “new wave” of addiction

In a recent report, the WHO revealed that around 100 million people worldwide vape today, including at least 15 million adolescents between 13 and 15 years old. This observation raises a formidable question: Why are so many young people turning to e-cigarettes?

The organization does not downplay the progress made in reducing smoking since the 2000s: the number of smokers has increased from 1.38 billion to 1.2 billion in 2024, despite overall population growth. But according to the WHO the tobacco industry reacts with new products containing nicotinelooking for a younger audience, to increase their profits.

Etienne Krug, director of health determinants at the WHO, is worried: e-cigarettes, often presented as the lesser evil, can actually push young people towards early addiction, thus undermining the progress achieved in three or four decades of tobacco control.

What makes teenagers particularly vulnerable

The adolescent brain is maturing, especially in terms of reward and impulse control circuits. Exposure to nicotine at an early age modulates these circuits in a lasting way, favoring the rapid onset of addiction.

Furthermore, according to the WHO, in countries with reliable data, children would be nine times more likely that adults adopt vaping. These data raise an alarm: the message that vaping sends to young people could in the future normalize the use of nicotine-based products (and then tobacco).

Finally, the WHO highlights the aggressive role of marketing, especially through social networks Legislative “loopholes” that allow manufacturers to circumvent restrictions imposed on traditional tobacco products. Faced with these strategies, regulations would struggle to keep up.

What the WHO asks of states

WHO calls for strengthening legislation on new nicotine products. In particular, we require:

• the elimination of regulatory loopholes that allow producers to target young people (for example: ban all the flavors in tobacco or nicotine products, because they “mask the harsh taste” and make the products more attractive to young people.)
• A strict ban on advertising, promotion and sponsorship related to e-cigarettes;
• the integration of the electronic cigarette into the same restrictions as tobacco (public places, taxes, controls);
• greater awareness among parents, schools and healthcare professionals about the early risks of addiction.

The warning issued by the WHO reminds us that vaping is not neutral ground. While some present it as a “less harmful” alternative to tobacco, in the hands of young people it can trigger a spiral of addiction. To protect children, we must move beyond the smoking/no smoking binary debate and consider vaping as a new public health priority. The earlier prevention is implemented, the better the risk can be controlled.

Source: Madmoizelle