Young Vape Users Three Times as Likely to Start Smoking, Study Finds

Published: 20 August 2025 | The English Chronicle Desk

A comprehensive new study has revealed that young people who use e-cigarettes are three times more likely to start smoking, experience asthma, and face mental health challenges compared with their peers who do not vape. The findings provide compelling evidence of the health risks associated with youth vaping and raise urgent questions about the need for stricter public health measures.

The study, published in the journal Tobacco Control, is the largest umbrella review of youth vaping to date, examining 56 reviews of existing research. Researchers found strong, consistent links between vaping and later smoking, as well as associations with other harmful consequences including respiratory issues, headaches, poor oral health, and increased risk of injuries.

“Across multiple studies, young people who use e-cigarettes are more likely to smoke in the future. The consistency in the evidence is striking,” said Su Golder, associate professor in health science at the University of York and a lead author of the research. “These findings support stronger public health measures to protect teens from the risks associated with vaping.”

Although the study did not definitively prove that vaping causes children to start smoking, the researchers emphasized the need for precautionary policies to limit the marketing and sale of e-cigarettes to young people. Dr Ronny Cheung, of the Royal College of Paediatrics, described youth vaping as a “serious threat to health and wellbeing” and urged the government to expedite the implementation of the tobacco and vapes bill, which will restrict flavours, packaging, and advertising aimed at children.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has previously described the rise in vaping among children worldwide as alarming. In the UK, figures from Action on Smoking and Health show that around 20% of 11- to 17-year-olds, roughly 1.1 million children, have tried vaping—triple the levels recorded in 2020.

Asthma was the most frequently observed respiratory condition linked to youth vaping. Studies consistently demonstrated a 20% to 36% increased risk of an asthma diagnosis and a 44% likelihood of worsening symptoms. Researchers noted that while the reviews included in the study were of varying quality, the strength and consistency of the associations warrant serious attention.

Last month, a separate study from the University of Michigan found that one-third of UK teenagers who vape eventually start smoking tobacco, echoing concerns raised by decades of historical public health data. Hazel Cheeseman, chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health, stressed that while e-cigarettes are an effective quitting aid for adult smokers, they are “not risk free and should not be used by children.”

Some experts urged caution in interpreting the findings. Dr Stephen Burgess, statistician at the University of Cambridge, highlighted that while associations between vaping and harmful behaviours are clear, establishing a direct causal link requires further investigation. Ann McNeill, professor of tobacco addiction at King’s College London, noted that many of the studies were of low quality and that other factors, such as personality traits, could influence both vaping and smoking behaviours.

In contrast, John Dunne, director general of the UK Vaping Industry Association, criticized the research, arguing that it unfairly demonizes vaping and could hinder adult smokers from accessing a safer alternative. “We need to stop demonising vaping because until the relative risks of cigarettes and vaping are understood by smokers, preventable smoking-related deaths will continue,” he said.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson reiterated the government’s position: “Our health advice is clear: while vapes are less harmful than smoking and can help adult smokers quit, children and non-smokers should never vape. The worrying rise in youth vaping requires action, which is why we commissioned this research and are implementing the tobacco and vapes bill to protect the next generation from nicotine addiction.”

The study underscores the growing public health concern surrounding youth vaping, highlighting that the rise of e-cigarette use among teenagers is not merely a passing trend but a potential gateway to lifelong smoking and associated health risks.