UK Teen Vaping Rates Mirror 1970s Smoking Trends, Study Finds

A recent long-term intergenerational study published in the journal Tobacco Control highlights a concerning trend among UK teenagers: the rate of vaping has reached levels comparable to the smoking uptake seen in the 1970s. Conducted by researchers from the University of Bristol and the University of Glasgow, the study analyzed data from three nationally representative birth cohorts of UK teens born in 1958, 1970, and 2001. The findings reveal that while the overall prevalence of teenage smoking has significantly decreased over the past five decades—from 33% in 1974 to just 12% in 2018—the likelihood of taking up smoking among current vapers is alarmingly high.

The study indicates that only 1.5% of non-vaping teens reported starting to smoke, compared to a staggering 33% of those who currently use e-cigarettes. This escalation in vaping rates among youth raises questions regarding the effectiveness of tobacco control measures and the potential for a resurgence in smoking habits among young people.

According to Dr. John Mongilio, lead researcher and epidemiologist at the University of Bristol, “While we have observed a historic decline in youth smoking, the current data suggests that e-cigarette use may be reversing this trend among adolescents.” The research utilized intergenerational data from the National Child Development Study (NCDS), the British Cohort Study (BCS), and the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS) to examine the influences of various risk and protective factors on teen smoking behavior.

The decrease in smoking prevalence can be attributed to comprehensive tobacco control legislation, increased public awareness of health risks, and a societal shift against smoking. Despite these advancements, the rise of vaping presents new challenges. The study’s authors emphasize that the relationship between vaping and smoking requires further exploration, particularly given the lack of causal evidence linking e-cigarette use to increased smoking rates.

Historically, the prevalence of smoking among UK teens has been declining due to various socio-environmental factors. For instance, in the NCDS, 94% of teens reported alcohol consumption by ages 16 or 17, a figure that decreased to 83% in the MCS. Additionally, the percentage of parents who smoked during pregnancy fell from over 70% in the NCDS to 27% in the MCS, underscoring changes in societal attitudes towards smoking and health.

The authors of the study acknowledge limitations, including an inability to fully account for sociodemographic factors such as race and ethnicity due to sample size constraints in earlier cohorts. Nevertheless, the implications of their findings are significant: efforts to curb smoking among youth must now extend beyond traditional strategies to include preventative measures against e-cigarette use.

In conclusion, the rising rates of vaping among teenagers, particularly those who have never smoked, signal a potential reversion to past smoking trends. The researchers advocate for a dual approach focusing on reducing both e-cigarette use and smoking rates to sustain the progress made in decreasing youth nicotine consumption. As Dr. Mongilio aptly states, “Future public health strategies must address these new dynamics to protect the health of the next generation.”