The children’s commissioner for England, Rachel de Souza, has called on the government to address the harmful marketing of vapes to young people. According to de Souza, this marketing is causing addiction to nicotine among children, leading to a lack of focus and concentration in school.
De Souza’s comments are supported by a research study involving 3,500 young people from across the UK. The study reveals concerning evidence that children feel pressure to vape, with addiction hindering their ability to concentrate during lessons. Some even avoid school toilets due to the fear of peer pressure to vape.
In response, de Souza is urging the government to ban disposable vapes, which are popular among children, and to implement regulations that mirror those in place for tobacco products. This includes plain packaging and age-of-sale signage. De Souza also advocates for a ban on nicotine-free vapes, as they are often seen as a gateway to vapes containing nicotine.
She emphasizes the need for stricter regulation of the vape market, describing it as a “wild west” where products are intentionally marketed to children both online and offline. De Souza believes that vaping should not be a strategy for quitting smoking, as many children who are addicted to vaping have never smoked tobacco.
The research study also found that both children and parents desire more information about the harms of vaping and tighter regulations. De Souza highlights the shock of school leaders when vapes confiscated from students were found to contain dangerous levels of chemicals like nickel and lead, which can negatively impact the central nervous system and brain development.
While de Souza commends recent government actions, such as the closure of the loophole that allows companies to provide free vaping samples to children, she insists on the immediate need for stricter regulations and health support for children who are already addicted.
The Department of Health and Social Care’s consultation on youth vaping, which closed on June 6, is regarded as an opportunity for crucial change. Ministers are considering additional measures to deter the sale of vapes to children, potentially including the banning of colorful branding or flavors.
The Royal College of Paediatricians and Child Health has also called for a ban on disposable vapes, aligning the UK with other countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Scotland, France, Germany, and Ireland that have implemented stricter regulations.
De Souza’s call for action is based on data collected from almost 500,000 children as part of a comprehensive survey on happiness and well-being in England. Children expressed concerns that vaping would prevent them from achieving their aspirations, linking these concerns to the lack of parental support, peer pressure, and the influence of social media.
The research further indicates that vulnerable children, including those in contact with social workers or those with disabled parents, are more likely to vape. Additionally, children who have vaped tend to underestimate the harmful effects of vaping.
Quotes from children involved in the research highlight their experiences and observations of vaping in schools and the negative influence of social media promoting harmful behaviors.
In response to these concerns, the Department of Health and Social Care acknowledges the illegality of selling nicotine vapes to children and expresses worry about the increase in youth vaping. They have established a £3 million illicit vapes enforcement squad to combat underage sales. Additionally, they have initiated a call for evidence to explore further actions to reduce children’s access to and use of vape products.
In conclusion, Rachel de Souza’s plea for stricter regulation of vapes and the banning of marketing targeted at young people highlights the urgent need to address the addiction and concentration issues caused by vaping. The inclusion of compelling statistics, firsthand accounts from children, and comparisons to regulations in other countries strengthen the call for action.
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