“Vaping can be very addictive and lead to a lifelong relationship with nicotine, and the chemicals within these products are very likely to be particularly harmful to young, developing lungs,” said Dr Mike McKean, vice-president for policy for the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.
Ashley Dalton, the public health minister, unveiled the campaign today alongside a major new research project that will investigate how vaping affects young people’s health.
Young people who start vaping could end up with damaged lungs and hooked on nicotine forever, the organisation representing the UK’s specialist children’s doctors warned.
“We know that vaping can be a useful tool to quit smoking but it’s crucial we have clear evidence on the long-term health harms, especially for young people,” said Dalton.
Influencers will urge young people not to start vaping as part of a government-funded campaign that will use YouTube and Instagram to highlight health risks.
