A 12-year-old girl’s plea for kids to avoid vaping after she ended up in a coma due to her addiction. Sarah Griffin, who started vaping at the age of nine, was hospitalized with a lung infection that was blamed on her vaping habit. Doctors put her in an induced coma for four days as she fought for her life. Sarah, from Belfast, has now shared her story to raise awareness of the dangers of vaping among young people.
Speaking about her experience, Sarah warned other young people, “Don’t start doing it, because once you start doing it, you don’t stop doing it. You only stop when you basically have to, when it’s a life or death situation.” She revealed that her vaping addiction caused permanent damage to her lungs, leaving her with lung exercises that an 80-year-old would do.
Sarah’s mother, Mary, urged parents to be aware of the dangers of vaping and called for stricter regulations, including banning child-friendly flavors, colorful packaging, and disposable versions of the devices. The government has launched a consultation to address the growing issue of young people using e-cigarettes.
Doctors showed Sarah’s mother an X-ray of her damaged lungs, with one lung no longer working properly and the other struggling to function. The incident has raised concerns among healthcare professionals about potential long-term health implications and the risks of addiction among young vapers.
Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke (NICHS) has also joined the cause to raise awareness and change misconceptions about vaping’s harmlessness compared to cigarettes. E-cigarettes may not contain tobacco or produce tar or carbon, but the long-term effects are still largely unknown. Experts fear a future surge in lung disease, dental issues, and even cancer among those who started vaping at a young age.
The number of children hospitalized due to vaping-related disorders has been increasing, with 40 children and young people admitted to hospitals in England last year. This alarming trend emphasizes the need for education and stricter regulations surrounding e-cigarettes.
Statistics show that around 4.5 million people in the UK use e-cigarettes, with a rise of 500,000 users in the past year. It is crucial to promote a better understanding of e-cigarettes and the potential health risks they pose.
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