Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
3 December 2024 | 09:22 a.m. CAT
2-minute read
2-minute read
No smoking no vaping sign. Forbidden sign icon isolated on white background vector illustration. Cigarette, vape and smoke and in prohibition circle.
A study led by the University of Cape Town has uncovered a startling level of vaping among high school learners in South Africa, with nearly 30% of Grade 12 learners reporting active use.
The study was conducted using an electronic survey, and the researchers received over 25 000 responses from learners across 52 schools in South Africa. It was found that 16,8% of high school learners have vaped in the last 30 days.
Speaking to Radio Islam International, Professor Richard van Zyl-Smit explained that the study is complex and requires qualified researchers, which is one reason the research had not been conducted previously.
Van Zyl-Smit, a pulmonologist at Groote Schuur Hospital, said the high levels of vaping in schools are a cause for concern, particularly in schools where half the matric class reported vape use.
“What shocked me was the variability and that in some schools it was as high as it was. Not in all schools, but the range is dramatic,” Professor van Zyl said, adding that the unprecedented levels were unexpected.
The findings reflect the highly addictive nature of extremely harmful vape products, especially for adolescents.
“Nicotine use during adolescence can harm the developing brain, with potential long-term effects on learning, memory and attention. Alarmingly, it also increases the risk of progression to conventional cigarette smoking,” Professor van Zyl said.
One of the biggest challenges in combating vapes during school hours is that they go by largely undetected. Vape products are often disguised as pens or flash drives, and no smell accompanies their use, unlike cigarettes.
Vape products are freely available and easily accessible, both in stores and through delivery services, even to minors.
Professor van Zyl emphasised the need to increase the regulation of vape sales to decrease its accessibility to teenagers. He suggests introducing laws to restrict sales to minors and raising awareness about the dangers of vaping.
“We need to recognise that this is not safe for high school learners, and we need to change the belief that it’s safer than tobacco and therefore it’s fine for our kids,” Professor van Zyl-Smit said, adding that it is imperative to help those who are already using it. The first step is to combat misinformation and misconceptions that vaping is a ‘safer’ alternative, and the second is to address the underlying stressor driving the trend.
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