The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised alarm over the growing global use of Vape products, revealing that more than 100 million people now use e-cigarettes. Among them, at least 15 million are children, highlighting what experts call a new wave of nicotine addiction.
According to WHO data, children are nearly nine times more likely to Vape than adults. Officials warn that while e-cigarettes are often marketed as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes, they are actually creating a new generation of nicotine users.
Dr. Etienne Krug of the WHO said that vaping is “fuelling a new wave of addiction.” He emphasized that these products, promoted as harm-reduction tools, are instead hooking young people on nicotine at an earlier age. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus accused the tobacco industry of “aggressively targeting” teenagers and young adults to sustain profits.
“Millions have quit smoking due to global tobacco control efforts,” Dr. Tedros said. “But the industry is fighting back with new nicotine products. Governments must act faster and stronger to protect young people.”
The WHO report shows that most adult e-cigarette users live in high-income countries. Around 86 million adults currently Vape, while 15 million teens aged 13 to 15 are already using e-cigarettes. However, many countries lack proper regulations. By the end of 2024, 62 nations had no vaping policy, and 74 had no minimum purchase age.
Meanwhile, traditional tobacco use has declined significantly. Global users dropped from 1.38 billion in 2000 to 1.2 billion in 2024. The decline is more evident among women, where usage fell from 11% to 6.6%, while male use dropped from 41.4% to 32.5%.
Health experts acknowledge that vaping may be less harmful than smoking and can help people quit tobacco. However, they stress that Vape products are not risk-free and should never be used by non-smokers, especially children.
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