Preventing adolescent vaping

Concerns are mounting worldwide about the increase in adolescent vaping. About 15% of young people globally admit to vaping, with 8% currently engaged in it. Health experts are alarmed by the surge in adolescent use of e-cigarettes, including nicotine and cannabis consumption through various vaping devices. 

The tobacco industry's marketing strategies and product innovation, such as the JUUL, have enticed adolescents with appealing flavours and social media campaigns. Peer influence plays a significant role in this trend, with peer groups being the primary setting for vaping among adolescents.

Despite the misconception that vaping is safer than traditional smoking, it poses numerous health risks due to the inhalation of harmful compounds, leading to acute lung injuries, oral tissue alterations, and even traumatic incidents like device explosions. Additionally, it has adverse effects on adolescent brain development, mental health, and creates dependence issues.

Addressing this issue requires evidence-based interventions to prevent vaping among adolescents. Several strategies have been proposed, varying from school-based programs such as Catch My Breath to ad campaigns like The Real Cost, aiming to change attitudes and beliefs about vaping. Some interventions utilise video games and virtual reality to educate about the risks and simulate refusal skills when facing peer pressure.

These interventions often focus on educating about the chemicals in e-cigarettes, the influence of flavour additives, industry-targeted marketing, and building refusal skills. While these interventions show promise in changing knowledge, beliefs, and reducing vaping intentions, a comprehensive review of existing public health interventions in preventing adolescent vaping is lacking. A review is underway which aims to fill this gap by compiling the components and outcomes of various interventions to provide a clearer understanding of their effectiveness.

The review protocol is available in the November 2023 issue of JBI Evidence Synthesis

Public health interventions to prevent adolescent vaping: a scoping review protocol

DiCasmirro, Jamie; Tranmer, Joan; Davison, Colleen; Woo, Kevin; Ross-White, Amanda; Hubeny, Michael; Goldie, Catherine

JBI Evidence Synthesis 21(11):p 2272-2278, November 2023. | DOI: 10.11124/JBIES-23-00055