IN CONVERSATION WITH SAMUEL RAMOTSHO
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South Africa is facing a growing crisis of youth addiction to vaping, driven by a lack of regulation and aggressive marketing portraying it as a “safe” and trendy habit. A major study conducted by the University of Cape Town and Utrecht University, involving over 25,000 learners from grades 8 to 12, found that 16.8% currently vape, while more than a third have tried it.
Vaping prevalence rises sharply with age—ranging from 8.5% in grade 8 to nearly 30% in grade 12. Many show signs of serious addiction: 47% use their vape within an hour of waking, 12% can’t get through the school day without it, and over 60% are classified as highly dependent.
Most vapes used contain nicotine, and almost 25% of teen users report mood disturbances when unable to vape. Health experts are alarmed by the impact of nicotine and other harmful chemicals on adolescent brain and lung development, noting risks such as cognitive impairment, depression, and respiratory damage.
The study’s authors stress the urgency of implementing the Tobacco Products & Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill, which bans sales to minors, limits marketing, and restricts access near schools. Although the Bill was introduced in 2022, it has yet to be passed, allowing vape products—often sweet-flavored and available through apps like UberEats—to remain easily accessible to teens.
Public health advocates, educators, and researchers are calling for immediate action. With no approved treatments for nicotine addiction in minors and rising reports from schools and parents, experts argue that regulation and awareness are essential to prevent long-term harm.
Despite voluntary codes from the vape industry prohibiting sales to under-18s, enforcement is lacking. The Vapour Products Association supports stricter marketing limits and urges the government to treat vaping and tobacco regulation separately to speed up legislation.
Health officials and researchers agree: without prompt intervention, South Africa risks a full-scale public health crisis driven by youth nicotine dependence
Vaping prevalence rises sharply with age—ranging from 8.5% in grade 8 to nearly 30% in grade 12. Many show signs of serious addiction: 47% use their vape within an hour of waking, 12% can’t get through the school day without it, and over 60% are classified as highly dependent.
Most vapes used contain nicotine, and almost 25% of teen users report mood disturbances when unable to vape. Health experts are alarmed by the impact of nicotine and other harmful chemicals on adolescent brain and lung development, noting risks such as cognitive impairment, depression, and respiratory damage.
The study’s authors stress the urgency of implementing the Tobacco Products & Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill, which bans sales to minors, limits marketing, and restricts access near schools. Although the Bill was introduced in 2022, it has yet to be passed, allowing vape products—often sweet-flavored and available through apps like UberEats—to remain easily accessible to teens.
Public health advocates, educators, and researchers are calling for immediate action. With no approved treatments for nicotine addiction in minors and rising reports from schools and parents, experts argue that regulation and awareness are essential to prevent long-term harm.
Despite voluntary codes from the vape industry prohibiting sales to under-18s, enforcement is lacking. The Vapour Products Association supports stricter marketing limits and urges the government to treat vaping and tobacco regulation separately to speed up legislation.
Health officials and researchers agree: without prompt intervention, South Africa risks a full-scale public health crisis driven by youth nicotine dependence