Vaping and oral nicotine products

Vapes are an evidence based stop smoking aid for adults in the UK.

However, they are not recommended for non-smokers, and their sale and use are illegal for under 18s.

Vapes are battery operated devices that heat an internal e-liquid aerosol or vapour.

The vaporised liquid usually contains nicotine but can contain a range of chemicals including illicit substances.

Oral nicotine products (ONPs) include pouches (by far the most common), strips, films, toothpicks.

These pouches are commonly referred to as “Snus”, but they do not contain tobacco as traditional Snus pouches do (these are banned in the UK).

Vaping and oral nicotine product use by children and young people are essential areas of Public Health

Action on youth vaping is both a national and local priority.

Within the 2024 Tobacco and Vapes bill the national government has set out a desire, and a series of measures, to eliminate vaping in the under 18s.

While vaping is a smoking cessation and harm reduction tool in adults, the Chief Medical Officer advises:

“If you smoke, vaping is much safer. If you don’t smoke, don’t vape; marketing vapes to children is utterly unacceptable”.

One in five 11 to 17 year olds have tried vaping and 7 percent regularly vape.

There are currently no legal age restrictions for the sale or use of ONPs.

In recent years both ONP sales figures and youth awareness levels show an exponential rise.

Associated harms

Vapes and ONPs contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance which has widespread effects on physical and mental health, many of which we do not yet fully understand.

We know that nicotine impacts on:

• behaviour
• childhood development
• respiratory health
• cardiovascular health
• mental health

Aside from the direct effects of nicotine vapes and ONPs affect other body systems, predominantly the respiratory system.

Vaping is associated with a rise in asthma exacerbations, direct e-cigarette lung injury (EVALI) and persistent coughs.

ONPs also impact on oral health, increasing the risk of ulcers, gum recession and mucosal changes.

We also know that vaping is linked to a three times higher risk of smoking initiation in children.

The long-term effects of nicotine as separate from smoking are less well understood and the long-term effects of vapes and ONPs remain unknown at this stage.

Key facts about vaping by children and young people

• Nationally 20 percent of 11 to 17 year olds tried vaping, around 1.1 million children (ASH Smokefree Youth Survey 2025).
• 72 percent of 11 to 17 year olds reported exposure to some form of vape promotion, the main sources being in shops (55 percent) and online (29 percent).
• Nationally 10 percent of UK adults vape; around 5.5 million adults.

Vaping and oral nicotine product use by children and young people are areas of Public Health focus in Havering

The Havering Youth Wellbeing Census (2023) revealed that 12 percent of Havering pupils reported experimenting with vaping, which is lower than the national figure.

However, informal conversations with participants at recent youth focus groups suggest much higher rates of use.

There is increasing local concern from parents and professionals working with children and young people about the use of vapes by those under 18.

What we do in Havering

We are currently conducting a local health needs assessment of the use of vapes and ONPs amongst children (aged 17 and under), and those up to age 25 with SEND or with care experience, who live or access education in Havering.

The needs assessment will accurately describe current local significance of vaping and ONP use, engage stakeholders and result in specific and feasible local recommendations.

We will take the information we learn from surveys of Professionals (Teachers/Youth Service workers), Parents/Carers, children and young people and focus groups of young people, in combination with the most up to date national data and any available medical data from primary and secondary care to produce recommendations for best-targeted local interventions.

Included in the Havering five-year Tobacco Harm Reduction Strategy (2024-2029) is a commitment to reduce both tobacco harm and vape harm among young people.

We are working closely with Trading Standards to raise awareness of the harms associated with vaping among young people and to reduce the sale of these products to those who are underage.

As part of this work, we are promoting a vaping reporting platform that schools can share with students and parents.

The platform enables anyone to report concerns when a business is selling vapes to under 18s, helping us take action and keep young people safe.

We have also shared resources to schools for delivering lessons and assemblies on the dangers of smoking and vaping.

Key initiatives

• A local health needs assessment of the use of vapes and ONPs amongst children (aged 17 and under), and those up to age 25 with SEND or with care experience, who live or access education in Havering.
• Close working with Trading Standards to prevent illegal sales of vapes to children and young people and promote a reporting tool for students and parents.
• Provision of resources to schools regarding the dangers of youth smoking and vaping.

How you can make a change

Members of the public can:

• report businesses selling vapes to children (under 18s) to Trading Standards or the police.
• stay up to date with vape information to have informed conversations with young people.

Professionals working in the area can:

• contribute to the Havering Vaping and ONP use amongst children needs assessment including implementing resulting recommendations.