Scotland considers nicotine withdrawal for children under 12

The rapid spread of the pediatric e-cigarette epidemic in Scotland has led health professionals to question nicotine withdrawal treatments for children under 12 years of age. Available treatments and protocols are only intended for people over 12 years of age. Several proposals have also been put forward to reduce the appeal and accessibility of vaping products.

In June 2023, a study on the health behaviors of school-aged children indicated that 3% of 11-year-olds and 10% of 13-year-olds were regular users of e-cigarettes. There were 4% of 13-year-olds and 16% of 13-year-olds, respectively, who had experimented with e-cigarettes during their lifetime. Reports of vaping in schools have increased sharply, and some parents have taken their 11- or 12-year-olds to pediatricians for reasons of e-cigarette withdrawal.

A component to be developed in the management of nicotine addiction

The issue of nicotine addiction and withdrawal in children was initially raised on September 12, 2023, by Green Party MP Gillian Mackay. Alerted by pediatricians and parents that children as young as 8 were vaping, she questioned Jenni Minto, the Minister for Public Health, at a meeting of the Health, Social Care and Sports Committee. She asked whether nicotine withdrawal advice and treatments could be offered to children under 12.[1].

As current nicotine withdrawal treatments are reserved for people over 12 years of age, the minister responded that she would consult the national order of pharmacists to look into this problem, which she has since taken up.[2]"Ideally, the approach would be through prescriptions, but there are currently no products approved by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency," she said. However, she reaffirmed the Scottish government's interest in this issue.

Helping people quit smoking and promoting the "Quit your way" program are indeed an important part of the 2018 anti-tobacco strategy.[3]Sheila Duffy, executive director of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH Scotland), is awaiting the publication of the new action plan this autumn to see whether the issue of e-cigarette cessation can be better addressed by the Scottish National Health Service (NHS).

Scotland seeks to curb underage vaping

To address the rapid rise of vaping among minors, Scottish authorities have been asked to consider measures to reduce exposure to and the appeal of e-cigarettes. The ban on the sale of e-cigarettes to minors was reaffirmed after an investigation revealed that 20 retailers agree to sell these products to minors. A public consultation recommended restrictions on the advertising and promotion of e-cigarettes. MP Gillian Mackay, for her part, called for the removal of attractive displays and flavors from e-cigarettes by the end of 2022. In June 2023, a college of pediatricians called for a ban on disposable e-cigarettes. Minister Jenni Minto assured that the next Tobacco Action Plan would take all of these proposals into consideration.

Keywords: Scotland, minors, e-cigarettes, puffs, nicotine addiction, Gillian Mackay, Jenni Minto.

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[1] Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, 25th Meeting 2023, Session 6, Official report, The Scottish Parliament, published 12 September 2023, accessed 11 October 2023.

[2] Lovell T, Scottish government considers nicotine addiction treatment for children aged under 12 years, The Pharmaceutical Journal, published October 9, 2023, accessed October 11, 2023.

[3] Raising Scotland's Tobacco-free Generation, Our Tobacco-Control Action Plan 2018, Scottish Government, June 2018, 48 p.

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