Spain: A public health NGO calls for greater regulation, control, and prevention of vaping

The Spanish Society of Family and Community Medicine (semFYC) is raising awareness about the potential effects of vaping on the health of minors and its possible role in initiating nicotine use.[1]. According to the Spanish Secondary School Drug Use Survey (ESTUDES), 49.5% of 14- to 18-year-olds report having used an e-cigarette, and 27.1% reported using one in the past month. For tobacco, these figures are 27.3% and 15.5%, respectively. The Spanish National Federation of Associations for the Fight Against Cancer (SemFYC) also points out that 80% of smoking cases begin before the age of 20 and that tobacco is the leading risk factor for lung cancer, which remains the deadliest cancer. This appeal comes as the Spanish government revises its anti-smoking law to further regulate new products.

Health risks, nicotine addiction, and transition to other products

For José Manuel Iglesias and María Iglesias, family physicians, members of the anti-smoking group semFYC, and coordinators of No Tobacco Week, adolescence is a crucial period due to the ongoing development of the body and brain. Nicotine can lead to addiction and affect certain brain functions, including attention, learning, and impulse control. The experts also emphasize that exposure from vaping is not limited to nicotine: the aerosols produced by e-cigarettes contain substances that may be harmful to health.

The semFYC also points out that, for some teenagers, e-cigarettes represent their first contact with nicotine. According to the organization's spokespeople, available studies show that teenagers who start using e-cigarettes are subsequently more likely to try traditional cigarettes. Developing a nicotine addiction could thus encourage continued use or the use of other nicotine products.

Young people are vulnerable to aromas, social influence, and social networks.

Several factors contribute to the appeal of e-cigarettes among teenagers. According to the survey conducted by the French Tobacco-Free Week (SemFYC), young people cite attractive flavors (79.2%), the "trendy" aspect (64.5%), social pressure (57.9%), and the perception of a lower risk (51.3%). Representatives of SemFYC believe that this perception of lower risk does not mean that there are no risks and emphasize the importance of the precautionary principle for minors.

Flavors can make the experience more enjoyable and facilitate experimentation for people who have never used vaping before. The spread of vaping on social media is another factor identified by experts. Products can appear in videos, trending topics on these networks, or in influencer content without necessarily being perceived as advertising.

Strengthening regulations and controls on minors' access as part of the revision of Spanish anti-smoking laws

The semFYC supports the measures provided for in the Spanish draft tobacco law currently being examined by Parliament. This legislation notably includes plans to expand the areas where smoking and vaping will be prohibited (bar and restaurant terraces, beaches, municipal swimming pools, stadiums, concert venues, and other outdoor spaces open to the public). It also strengthens restrictions on electronic cigarettes and other products (heated tobacco, nicotine pouches, shisha), as well as their advertising. The legislation further explicitly prohibits the consumption, and not just the sale, of tobacco and related products to minors.

For the organization, however, the effectiveness of these measures will depend on their actual implementation. It calls in particular for strengthening controls on minors' access to products, including online and through third parties, as well as for action on advertising, social media, flavorings, and risk perception. In this regard, they point out that the market is evolving rapidly and that "« New devices and new forms of consumption are constantly emerging ".

Prevention measures that need to be implemented over the long term, in parallel

The semFYC thus advocates a strategy combining regulation, monitoring, and other preventative measures. In the field of education, it believes that preventative actions should be regular rather than sporadic. These actions should, in particular, explain to young people the composition of products, the mechanisms of nicotine addiction, and the promotional strategies used in digital media. For family medicine specialists, preventing any initiation of nicotine use, and failing that, delaying first contact as much as possible, is a preventative objective.

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[1]The semFYC alerted that the nicotine of vapeadores could affect the desarrollo of teenage girls, semFYC, published on September 18, 2026, accessed on September 21, 2026

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