The charity, Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) has responded to the NHS’s 2021 report entitled ‘Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People in England’.

The report found that current e-cigarette use has increased to nine per cent up from six per cent in 2018. Additionally, around one in five (21 per cent) 15-year old girls were classified as current e-cigarette users.

On a more positive note, there continued to be a decline in the prevalence of cigarette smoking with only three per cent of pupils declaring themselves current smokers, compared with five per cent in 2018.

Addressing these figures, Deborah Arnott, chief executive of ASH, said: “The NHS Digital survey shows the same concerning rise in underage vaping as ASH data published in July. Schools, parents and local authorities are looking for help and ASH has just published guidance on how to tackle youth vaping, available on our website. 

“But while further action on vaping is needed, it is still only a small minority of children vaping and it is encouraging to see that the NHS Digital survey finds youth smoking has continued to decline, as smoking is far more harmful than vaping.”

You can read the full ‘Smoking, Drink and Drug Use among Young People in England, 2021’ report here.