Northern Ireland vaping survey reveals scale of problem among young people

A new study reveals that nearly half of all secondary school students in Northern Ireland vape. The survey, conducted by the Public Health Agency (PHA), involved more than 7,500 young people aged 11 to 18 in 91 secondary schools. The PHA is now calling the phenomenon an "urgent public health issue." The authors of the report, "Vaping Behaviors Among Young People in Northern Ireland," examined the use of e-cigarettes and young people's perceptions of them, and also incorporated data on tobacco use.[1].

In Northern Ireland, a third of students who vape later switch to cigarettes

The study reveals that 98% of the young people surveyed are familiar with vaping, 15% currently vape, including 46% of final year students, compared to 4% in 5th grade.^e. 76 % of vapers had never smoked before and 33 % of these non-smokers subsequently tried cigarettes. 75 % of e-cigarettes are shared[2].

While 40 % of young vapers reported side effects (headaches, dizziness, shortness of breath, cough, decreased fitness, anxiety/stress, nausea, rapid heart rate, fatigue), 64 % tried to quit, 55 % were temporarily successful, 35 % would like to quit and 14 % would like support.

Regarding smoking, 9 % of the students reported having smoked a cigarette - 5 % of the respondents were smokers at the time of the survey and among them, 26 % reported smoking daily. 46 % were regular smokers, 16 % occasional smokers and 39 % experimental smokers.

Smoking is more prevalent in high school (17 %) than in middle school (5 %), and more common in disadvantaged areas (12 %) than in advantaged areas (7 %). 51 % of young people reported that a member of their immediate family had already smoked cigarettes. For the vast majority of smokers, the experience of smoking began in adolescence, but 14 % tried their first cigarette at the age of 10 or younger.

Health workers express concern over the situation in Northern Ireland

Elaine Wilmot, head of health monitoring at the PHA, explained that vaping among young people is mainly due to curiosity, herd behavior, or popularity to "look cool." Young people easily obtain vapes, often through friends or family.

Although they are aware of some short-term risks (such as coughing, difficulty breathing, headaches, dizziness, etc.), many underestimate the effects of nicotine, including the risk of addiction or worsening mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.

The presence of vaping in schools, particularly in restrooms, makes the phenomenon difficult to control and contributes to its trivialization. Social media also plays a major role, presenting vaping as an attractive activity, often portrayed by influencers or celebrities, to the detriment of clear information on the dangers associated with nicotine.

Colette Rogers, head of tobacco control strategy at the PHA, stresses the importance of raising awareness among families and the educational community.[3]She emphasizes the fundamental role of parents and guardians, who must engage in open and early discussions with young people about the risks of vaping, without waiting for problems to arise. She also emphasizes that " It is important to inform young people that regardless of what they have been told, even by a close friend, vaping is not cool and that they should not start using these products because the long-term health effects are not yet fully known. These findings will also help us address the issue of vaping in Northern Ireland and the services put in place to help people quit smoking and vaping.]. ".

This study comes a few weeks before the entry into force on 1^er June 2025, of the ban on the sale and supply of single-use vaping products in Northern Ireland. Andrew Muir, Minister for the Environment and Planning, had announced this date in December 2024 to coincide with a similar ban in the rest of the UK.

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[1]Wilmot E, Hagan A, “PHA publishes youth vaping research”, Health Intelligence Unit, Public Health Agency, April 2025, https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/sites/default/files/2025-05/Behavioural%20Insights%20into%20Youth%20Vaping%20in%20NI_0.pdf

[2]Public Health Agency, PHA publishes youth vaping research, published May 15, 2025, accessed May 16, 2025

[3]Fitzmaurice Maurice, Northern Ireland vaping survey lifts lid on scale of problem among young people, Belfast Live, published 15 May 2025, accessed 16 May 2025

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