Vaping

Vaping is the act of inhaling nicotine as a water-based vapour rather than smoke. This vapour is created by an electronic cigarette or another vaping device. While it is less harmful than smoking, vaping is not risk-free.

Read more facts on vaping at ash.org.uk or watch the video below:

Vaping to quit smoking

Vaping and e-cigarettes can be a particularly helpful way to stop smoking tobacco especially when combined with a specialist face to face support. Although experts say they are not entirely risk free, they are at least 95% less harmful than tobacco. You can read more about vaping and its associated risks in PHE’s report on e-cigarettes and The UK Health Security Agency’s blog on vaping myths.

Also see: Using e-cigarettes to stop smoking - NHS.

Vaping in young people

UK evidence shows that vaping in young people is growing, with 15.8% of 11–17-year-olds having tried vaping in 2022, a significant increase compared to 3.8% in 2013. While there is no specific data for the Isle of Man, the assumption is that vaping in young people in the Island is also on the rise.

Smoking is much more harmful than vaping. Tobacco smoke contains carbon monoxide and tar, a sticky soup of around 250 toxic chemicals, 69 of which are known to be carcinogenic, causing disease, disability, and early death.

However, vapes are not harmless and there are public health concerns as to the potential long-term health risks of vaping for our young people.

A draft bill to regulate the sale or supply of vaping devices and products, including prohibiting the sale for people under the age of 18, successfully completed its passage through the House of Keys in June 2023. Read the Vaping Products Bill 2023.

This change will undoubtedly have an impact on young people who vape and we are taking steps to ensure resources are available for young people and their guardians to support them.

If you are concerned about a young person who is vaping, read Vaping and e-cigarettes: the facts for parents and carers - ASH.

Nicotine replacement therapy is available to assist with quitting vaping. Speak to your GP for more information and for advice on quitting.

For further reading on vaping and young people from Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) visit the ‘downloadable documents’ and ‘Related Links’ section of this page.