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Vaping: The New Social Anxiety Crutch?
17 Oct
Summary
- Many who never smoked now vape, driven by social anxiety.
- Nicotine in vapes causes addiction, with unclear long-term effects.
- Marketing of sweet-flavored vapes attracts non-smokers.
An increasing number of UK adults, particularly those who have never smoked, are taking up vaping. Figures indicate over one million people in Britain fall into this category, a trend rising year-on-year. For some, like Gracey, 21, vaping serves as a coping mechanism for social anxiety, providing a comforting hand and mouth action.
Nicotine, a key component in vapes, is highly addictive. While considered less harmful than cigarettes by the NHS, the long-term health consequences remain uncertain. For individuals like Malin, 33, a former Love Island contestant, vaping acted as a 'dopamine hit' and an 'adult's version of a dummy' during stressful periods.
Experts suggest that prominent marketing, featuring sweet flavors and bright colors, may be attracting new users who might otherwise not have engaged with nicotine products. This raises concerns that vaping could be exposing more people to risk, even as overall smoking rates decline significantly in the UK.
Efforts are underway to curb the appeal of vaping among young people, with disposable vapes already banned. The NHS advises non-smokers and those under 18 against vaping, recommending gradual nicotine reduction or nicotine replacement therapy for those seeking to quit. However, support for vaping cessation remains inconsistent across healthcare providers.
