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New study finds vaping has tripled among children 14 or younger

Vaping360

A new national survey has found the number of e-cigarette users who started vaping at 14 or younger has tripled in the last five years.

The findings are part of a new study which used data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey. It collected information from some 27-thousand 16-17 year olds.

Roughly 10% of middle school students are current vapers.

Study author Dr. Rebecca Evans-Polce said the findings are concerning.

“We know that kids that start tobacco and nicotine products at earlier ages are more likely to become addicted and keep using them in adulthood,” she said. “We also know that exposing the brain to nicotine at these young ages can be particularly harmful to their brains.”

Evans-Polce said it is not too early to talk to children about the dangers of vaping.

“Talking to your kids about vaping as early as 12, 13, 14 is not too young,” she said. “These behaviours are starting that young so we need to be having that conversation early.”

Evans-Polce said the increase in youth vaping could be due to the perception that vaping is less harmful than cigarettes.