The World Health Organization (WHO) is raising the alarm on a “new wave” of nicotine addiction, driven by the more than 100 million people who now use e-cigarettes. This figure includes at least 15 million children, with global data showing children are, on average, nine times more likely to vape than adults.WHO officials accuse the tobacco industry of aggressively targeting young people with these new products, undermining decades of progress in tobacco control. While global tobacco use has declined, the rise of e-cigarettes threatens to create a new generation of nicotine addicts.
The data reveals a significant regulatory gap. By the end of 2024, 62 countries had no e-cigarette policy at all, and 74 had no minimum age for purchase, leaving children vulnerable.Although experts acknowledge vaping is less harmful than smoking cigarettes and can aid smoking cessation, it is not recommended for non-smokers. The WHO’s primary concern is that the industry is marketing e-cigarettes as harm reduction while effectively hooking a new generation on nicotine, reversing hard-won public health gains.
