The survey reveals that among young Australians, particularly teens, both vaping and smoking were on the rise.
The most recent studies, according to Professor Emily Banks from the Australian National University, offer more proof of the connections between vaping and smoking.
Young individuals who use e-cigarettes are around three times more likely to start smoking than their non-vaping counterparts, according to studies that track participants over time.
According to the latest research, smoking rates among 14 to 17-year-olds are on the rise for the first time in more than 20 years, growing from 2.1% in 2018 to 6.7% in 2022, while recent vaping rates have increased from less than 1% to 11.8% during the same period. Exactly what we didn’t want to see, this is scary.
According to the World Health Organisation, using e-cigarettes and smoking both come with risks. The best course of action is to avoid using either. These findings once again demonstrate and support prior research that both smoking and vaping provide a clear and present danger to young Australians’ health.
The study was conducted in response to Professor Banks’ recent, peer-reviewed research showing an increase in e-cigarette use among young Australians. The study also validated the health hazards associated with vaping.
The highly addictive substance nicotine is delivered by both smoking and vaping. People who use e-cigarettes are frequently addicted, and young people are particularly susceptible since their brains are still developing, according to Professor Banks.
Because of cravings, withdrawal symptoms, and the urge to vape, it may be difficult for children and teens to sit through a lesson or family meal.
According to earlier studies by Professor Banks and colleagues, smoking causes about 50% of deaths in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults aged 45 and over and triples the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease compared to nonsmokers. E-cigarette users are also more likely to start smoking than nonusers. According to the same study, people who smoke five cigarettes on average each day had a doubled risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.
If the issues outlined in this article are affecting you, please do not hesitate to contact us, and we will do what we can to help you with your situation.