Watch the full version of the “Youth vaping rises in South Africa amid lack of regulation“ article – in a minute.
Youth vaping is rising sharply in SA, with teens showing high addiction rates as lawmakers delay regulation and retailers continue to sell vapes freely.
According to Mail&Guardian a new study conducted by researchers from the University of Cape Town and Utrecht University, surveyed over 25 000 learners from grades 8 to 12, across eight provinces.
The results, published in The Lancet’s eClinical Medicine, are alarming: nearly 17% of teens admitted to currently vaping, with 60% of those showing signs of strong addiction.
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STUDY HIGHLIGHTS EXTENT OF YOUTH VAPING IN SOUTH AFRICA
The researchers found vaping gets more common the older the learners are, with nearly 30% of grade 12s vaping. And it’s not just occasional use many said they couldn’t go a full school day without it. Almost half reported vaping within an hour of waking up, a strong sign of dependence.
THE VAPE INDUSTRY ARGUES THAT PEOPLE MISINTERPRET ITS ROLE
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