Leading health charities have welcomed a speech by Brian Whittle MSP which highlighted concerns about youth vaping during a debate in Holyrood on Tuesday (31 January).
ASH Scotland and Asthma + Lung UK Scotland appreciated the contribution by the MSP for South Scotland when a motion lodged by Siobhian Brown MSP was discussed.
Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of health charity ASH Scotland, said:
“We thank Brian Whittle MSP for highlighting his concerns about the upsurge in vaping by young people, which is driven by the popularity of cheap sweet flavoured, brightly coloured disposable vapes.
“Children and youths using these health harming products is a major worry and needs to be tackled by the Scottish Government as a matter of urgency. Most vapes include nicotine, which is highly addictive, and toxic e-liquids that have not been safety tested for inhalation, and could risk damage to their growing lungs over time.”
Joseph Carter, Head of Asthma + Lung UK Scotland said:
“As highlighted by Brian Whittle MSP and many other speakers, e-cigarettes are a relatively new stop smoking tool and for many they are a helpful way to give up smoking. But e-cigarettes are not risk free, and more research is needed on how long-term vaping can affect the lungs and overall health.
“We are grateful for the breadth of support from MSPs across Scotland who are worried about the vaping impact on the lungs and health of children and young people. The Scottish Government needs to act to reduce the availability, marketing and promotion of vaping products for non-smokers, including children and young people.”
Brian Whittle MSP said:
“For all that vaping can be a useful tool to help people quit smoking, it isn’t harmless and it certainly isn’t safe for children.
It’s incredibly frustrating to me that vaping and e-cigarette companies continue to put out brightly coloured e-liquids in flavours like bubble-gum and candyfloss, but reject the idea that we need tougher measures to stop children buying them.
Vaping should be something that adults wanting to quit smoking use and then taper off over time. It shouldn’t be seen as ‘safe’ alternative to smoking that you can use forever without health risks. Not least because we don’t know what the long-term effects of vaping are.
Vaping is already far too common among children and young people. If we don’t act now to better regulate the use of vaping, we are risking the health of our next generation.”
Brian Whittle MSP has joined both charities in calling on the Scottish Government to act swiftly to reduce the visibility of e-cigarettes in supermarkets or community shops as part of measures to restrict the promotions and advertising of vaping products to protect the long-term health of young people in South Scotland and across the country.
ASH Scotland is appealing for teachers, parents or carers concerned about seeing widespread vaping by local youngsters to share anecdotal details by emailing: [email protected].
