According to the most recent data from NHS Digital, the national information and technology partner for the health and care system, there has been an increase in the number of school children who use e-cigarettes in England, with 9% of 11 to 15-year-olds using them currently, up from 6% in 2018. Additionally, more than half (57%) of regular e-cigarette users buy them from shops.
According to the Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use Among Young People in England, 2021 research, 61% of regular e-cigarette users reported receiving their devices from others, with friends being the most prevalent source (45%).
The percentage of purchases made in stores of any kind increased from 29% in 2018 to 57% in 2021. Newsagents were the most popular type of store (41%), followed by e-cigarette stores (27%), supermarkets (13%), garage stores (10%), and miscellaneous stores (10%). Only 25% of purchases were made online.
The study also discovered a fall in cigarette smoking among schoolchildren, with only 3% of students reporting they currently smoke, down from 5% in 2018.
From 29% of regular smokers in 2018 to 61% in 2021, the percentage of regular smokers who also regularly use e-cigarettes more than doubled, whereas just 18% of all 15-year-olds reported using e-cigarettes in the past 30 days.
The percentage of 15-year-old girls who now use e-cigarettes climbed from 10% in 2018 to 21% (or around one in five) in 2021.
Ref: https://www.conveniencestore.co.uk/your-business/57-of-school-children-who-regularly-vape-are-buying-e-cigarettes-from-shops/671195.article
If you find yourself struggling with any of the problems outlined in this article, please contact us, and our team will do our best to help.