Zim GBC News | Health and Environment
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a stark warning about a “new wave” of nicotine addiction, revealing that more than 100 million people worldwide, including at least 15 million children, are now using e-cigarettes.
According to global figures compiled by the UN health body, children are, on average, nine times more likely to vape than adults, sparking major concerns about a reversal of decades of progress in tobacco control.
Dr. Etienne Krug, WHO’s lead on non-communicable diseases, condemned the marketing of e-cigarettes as a “harm reduction” tool, stating that in reality, they are ensnaring a new generation.
“These products are hooking kids earlier and risk undermining decades of progress against tobacco use,” Dr. Krug said.
Echoing this sentiment, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus slammed the tobacco industry for its aggressive tactics.
“Millions of people are quitting or never starting tobacco use thanks to strong tobacco control measures worldwide,” Dr. Tedros stated.
“In response, the industry is fighting back with new nicotine products aimed squarely at children and teens. Governments must act faster and stronger.”
Accurate global data remains a challenge, as 109 countries, many in Africa and Southeast Asia, do not track e-cigarette usage. However, based on surveys from 123 nations, the WHO estimates there are 86 million adult vapers, predominantly in high-income countries, alongside the 15 million teenagers aged 13 to 15.
This rise in vaping coincides with a decline in traditional tobacco use, which has fallen from an estimated 1.38 billion users in 2000 to 1.2 billion in 2024. Despite this positive trend, one in five adults worldwide still uses tobacco, a leading cause of cancer and other deadly diseases.
While experts acknowledge that vaping is less harmful than smoking traditional cigarettes and can aid some in quitting, they strongly caution that it is not safe, especially for non-smokers.
E-cigarettes, though they do not burn tobacco or produce harmful tar and carbon monoxide, still deliver highly addictive nicotine.
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