Last Updated on September 1, 2025 by Royce Pierpont
As the global vaping industry continues its meteoric rise, health experts at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) annual congress in Madrid have issued a stark warning: e-cigarettes may be silently sowing the seeds of a public health catastrophe, particularly among children and teenagers. Far from being a harmless alternative to smoking, vaping is increasingly linked to serious health risks, including irreversible damage to developing brains and hearts. With millions of young people worldwide now using e-cigarettes, experts are calling for urgent action to curb what some fear could become a new “tobacco epidemic” for the next generation.
A Growing Trend Among Youth
The allure of vaping lies in its accessibility, affordability, and appeal to younger demographics. Flavored e-liquids with names like “cotton candy” and “bubblegum” and sleek, discreet devices have made vaping a cultural phenomenon among teenagers. According to a 2025 University College London study, vaping rates among young adults in the UK have surged from 17% in 2022 to 26.5% in 2024. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported in 2024 that 6.1% of Hispanic and 5.9% of non-Hispanic White high school students use e-cigarettes, with rates as high as 11.5% among Native American youth. These numbers reflect a global trend, with countries like Australia and Canada reporting similar spikes in youth vaping.
The accessibility of vapes is a significant driver of this trend. Unlike traditional cigarettes, which face stringent regulations, e-cigarettes are often sold without robust age verification. Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram amplify their appeal, with influencers showcasing flavored vapes in vibrant, youth-friendly packaging. “Vaping appeals to adolescents because it’s cheap, tastes like candy, and is often perceived as harmless,” said Professor Maja-Lisa Løchen, a senior cardiologist at the University Hospital of North Norway, during her ESC presentation. “But we know it’s not harmless. We’re seeing a generation at risk.”
The Health Risks: More Than Just Nicotine
While vaping was initially marketed as a safer alternative to smoking, emerging evidence paints a troubling picture. E-cigarettes contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance that can impair brain development in adolescents, affecting attention, learning, and impulse control. A 2024 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that vaping increases the risk of stroke by 32%, cardiovascular disease by 24%, asthma by 24%, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by 46% compared to non-users. These risks, while lower than those associated with smoking, are far from negligible.
Professor Løchen highlighted the presence of 133 potentially harmful chemicals in e-cigarettes, including 107 known carcinogens. Heavy metals like lead, nickel, and chromium, found in vape aerosols, pose additional risks, particularly to developing lungs. A 2025 study from the New York Times reported alarmingly high levels of these metals in popular vape brands, raising concerns about long-term toxicity. “We’re exposing young people to a cocktail of toxins we don’t fully understand,” Løchen warned. “The impact on their developing brains and hearts could be catastrophic.”
Cardiologist Professor Susanna Price, chair of the ESC Advocacy Committee, echoed these concerns. “We don’t yet know the full extent of long-term cardiovascular risks because vaping is still relatively new,” she said. “But early evidence shows markers of inflammation in blood vessels spike rapidly after vaping. This isn’t a benign habit.” Price also noted that vaping’s appeal to non-smokers, particularly teenagers, undermines its role as a smoking cessation tool. “We’re not helping kids quit smoking—they’re starting with vapes and getting hooked on nicotine.”
A Gateway to Smoking?
One of the most alarming findings is vaping’s potential to act as a gateway to traditional cigarette use. A 2025 study from the University of York found that young vapers are three times more likely to start smoking than their non-vaping peers. “The consistency in the evidence is striking,” said associate professor Su Golder, an author of the study. “Across multiple studies, young people who use e-cigarettes are more likely to smoke in the future.” This challenges the narrative pushed by the vaping industry that e-cigarettes are solely a harm-reduction tool for adult smokers.
In the UK, where vaping is promoted as a smoking cessation aid, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health has raised the alarm about rising youth vaping rates. NHS data from 2021 showed that 9% of 11- to 15-year-olds had used e-cigarettes, a figure that jumped to 18% for 15-year-olds. By 2025, experts estimate that up to 15% of teenagers may be vaping, with some predicting that nearly all children could experiment with e-cigarettes within a decade if trends continue.
Calls for a Global Ban
The mounting evidence has prompted some experts to advocate for drastic measures. Professor Løchen called for a global ban on e-cigarette sales, citing 15 to 20 years of data showing their harmful effects. “We have the data. We know they are not harmless,” she said. “The additional risks to children’s developing bodies demand immediate action.” Norway, which lifted its ban on nicotine-containing vapes in July 2025, now restricts sales to tobacco-flavored liquids, a move Løchen believes is insufficient to protect youth.
In the UK, the government has taken steps to address the issue. Disposable vapes were banned in 2025, and the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, currently progressing through Parliament, aims to restrict vape flavors, packaging, and marketing to deter youth use. However, critics argue that enforcement remains lax, with illicit vapes containing dangerous levels of nicotine and banned chemicals flooding the market. A 2023 Guardian report noted that some illicit vapes from China contained lead and chromium at levels far exceeding safety thresholds.
A Public Health Dilemma
The vaping debate is complicated by its dual role as both a harm-reduction tool and a potential health hazard. Public Health England has long maintained that vaping is 95% less harmful than smoking, a claim that has drawn criticism for oversimplifying the risks. While vaping has helped over 2 million UK adults quit smoking since 2020, according to Action on Smoking and Health, its benefits are primarily for adult smokers, not non-smoking youth. “Vapes are effective quit aids for adults, but they are not risk-free and should not be used by children,” said Caroline Cerny, deputy chief executive of the organization.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has taken a more cautious stance, stating that evidence on vaping as a cessation aid is inconclusive and that e-cigarettes carry significant health risks, particularly for young people. The WHO has called for stricter regulations, noting that vaping can lead to long-term nicotine dependency and may act as a gateway to smoking.
Voices from the Frontlines
Parents and educators are increasingly vocal about the impact of vaping on youth. Maria King, a mother from Eastbourne, UK, described how her 13-year-old son’s vaping habit, sparked by peer influence and TikTok videos, changed his behavior. “He became irrational and agitated, and it disrupted our family dynamic,” she told The Guardian in 2022. King is now campaigning for stronger regulations to prevent vape companies from targeting children with colorful packaging and sweet flavors.
Health professionals like Dr. Mike McKean, vice-president of policy for the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, share these concerns. “Vaping can lead to a lifelong relationship with nicotine,” he said in a 2025 statement. “The chemicals in these products are likely to be particularly harmful to young, developing lungs.”
The Path Forward
As vaping rates climb, the urgency to act grows. Experts are calling for a multi-pronged approach: stricter age verification, bans on flavored vapes, and public health campaigns to educate youth about the risks. The UK’s 2025 campaign featuring influencers like Big Manny and Bodalia aims to dissuade under-18s from vaping, but its success remains to be seen.
For now, the message from Madrid is clear: vaping is not a harmless trend. With millions of young people at risk of addiction, cardiovascular disease, and lung damage, the world faces a critical choice. Will it act swiftly to protect its youth, or will history repeat itself with a new generation hooked on nicotine? As Professor Løchen put it, “We can’t wait decades to learn the lessons of vaping like we did with cigarettes. The time to act is now.”
