Vaping
After the quick rise in vaping prevalence amongst young people over the last decade, the rates for 11–17-year-olds appears to have stabilised. The 2024 ASH Smokefree GB Youth Survey found that 18% of this age group had ever tried vaping, compared to 20% the previous year. This was broken down into 4.2% reporting vaping more than once a week, 3% vaping less than once a week and the remaining 1.3% reporting that they no longer vape. For more information on vape use amongst young people in Britain please see Use of vapes (e-cigarettes) among young people in Great Britain - ASH , August 2024.
Reasons for vaping included curiosity, joining in with others, enjoyment of flavours and stress or mental health.
The current evidence tells us that vaping UK regulated products is far less harmful than using tobacco. Vaping has also become the most popular and successful way for adults to stop smoking. However, vaping is not without risk and should not be used under 18s whose bodies are still rapidly developing, or by anyone who doesn’t already smoke.
Managing vapes in schools
Guidance from ADPH South East Tobacco
Control Network (2023)
Teaching about vaping
New materials to support teaching about smoking and vaping, developed by our Public Health Team, are available here.
Information
Wiltshire A5 leaflet for parents and carers
Wiltshire A4 vaping poster - A
Wiltshire A4 vaping poster - B
Support and training
This online training is available through Connect (Wiltshire’s Substance Use Service) on smoking and vaping which includes vaping of non-nicotine substances such as THC and Spice. Book by contacting davecook@dhi-online.org.uk.
- 25th March 2025, 3.30 to 4.30 pm
- 29th April 2025,3:30 to 4:30 pm
The Connect service can support young people who may need help with their substance use.
Contact: 0300 5550 157
connectreferrals@turning-point.co.uk
The Wrap Information and support for professionals
The Wrap Information on Smoking, Vaping & Snus for young people
The Wiltshire Health Improvement Hub
can provide free and confidential support for young people who would like to stop nicotine vaping and/or smoking. Smokefree Wiltshire - Wiltshire Council
0300 003 4566 (select option 1) health.coaches@wiltshire.gov.uk
Illegal vapes - Risk of contamination
In some cases, vapes have been found to contain synthetic cannabinoids and other drugs. Synthetic cannabinoids (often marketed under various names like ‘Spice’, ‘K2’ or synthetic marijuana’) are a man-made psychoactive substance designed to mimic the effects of cannabis. Synthetic cannabinoids are more potent and harmful than natural cannabis and can result in symptoms such as high fever, rapid pulse, sweating, agitation, confusion, hallucinations, convulsions, organ failure, coma and even death.
Reporting - Wiltshire Police
Wiltshire Police are encouraging schools to place the ‘Identifying Spice and THC vapes’ posters in staff only areas. If a vape is confiscated which is suspected to contain drugs (either knowingly or unknowingly to the student) please report this to the police, by scanning the QR code on the poster or using this online form.
Once police receive the report, officers will come and take possession of the vape to test. If the results are positive, letters published by Public Health, in consultation with Wiltshire Police will be sent to the school to highlight the issue and offer support services. Officers cannot test every vape confiscated, therefore it is important that you only report vapes where there is a strong suspicion it is contaminated with something illicit.
The purpose of police testing these products is for public health intelligence and harm reduction and is not to be used as evidence for prosecution.
Reporting - Trading Standards
The law is clear no nicotine vapour product should be sold to anyone under the age of 18. The Trading Standards Service would like to further understand the presence of these products in Wiltshire, and if they have been identified within your school.
Information can be sent to tradingstandards@wiltshire.gov.uk
Please see the flyers below for further information
e.cigs information for schools - Trading Standards Wiltshire
Report underage sales of age restricted goods to Wiltshire Council
Disposable vapes flyer - Trading Standards South West
Illegal Tobacco and Vapes Report It Campaign
Trading Standards South West (TSSW) have recently begun a campaign to increase the awareness of how to report illegal tobacco and vapes, or underage sales, by using the TSSW Report IT form. Please follow, like and share the below social media accounts and posts.
Facebook – www.facebook.com/TradStandSW
Instagram- www.instagram.com/tradstandsw
X- @tradStandSW
Useful inks
Use of e-cigarettes among young people (ASH)
Wiltshire School Smoking and Vaping Survey 2024
Useful contacts
For questions or more information about vaping:
Helen Aston (Public Health Specialist) Helen.Aston@wiltshire.gov.uk
