A new report by the World Health Organization (WHO) has sounded the alarm on a growing global crisis — the rapid rise of vaping, especially among young people. The report estimates that more than 100 million people worldwide now use e-cigarettes, including at least 15 million children aged 13 to 15 — marking what WHO officials call a “new wave of nicotine addiction.”

Youth Vaping Crisis on the Rise

According to the data, children are on average nine times more likely than adults to vape, highlighting how the tobacco industry’s marketing tactics are targeting a younger demographic.
Dr. Etienne Krug of WHO stated, “E-cigarettes are marketed as harm reduction but, in reality, are hooking kids on nicotine earlier and risk undermining decades of progress.”

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus echoed this concern, accusing the tobacco industry of “aggressively targeting young people” with sleek designs, sweet flavors, and influencer-led promotions.
“In response to strong global tobacco control progress, the industry is fighting back with new nicotine products,” he warned. “Governments must act faster and stronger to implement proven tobacco-control policies.”

Regulations Lag Behind the Trend

The WHO report reveals alarming gaps in global regulation. Out of nearly 200 countries, 62 have no vaping policies in place, and 74 lack a minimum legal purchasing age for e-cigarettes.
The data also shows that 86 million adult users, mainly in high-income countries, are already hooked on e-cigarettes, while youth adoption continues to climb across low- and middle-income nations.

Smoking Declines, But Vaping Surges

Ironically, while vaping numbers skyrocket, traditional tobacco use has been falling steadily. The number of smokers globally has dropped from 1.38 billion in 2000 to 1.2 billion in 2024.
Among women, tobacco use fell from 11% in 2010 to 6.6% in 2024, while among men, it dropped from 41.4% to 32.5% over the same period. Yet, one in five adults still uses tobacco, and experts fear that vaping could reverse much of this progress.

Experts Divided on Vaping’s Impact

Public health experts remain split. Some argue that vaping is less harmful than smoking and can help long-term smokers quit. Unlike cigarettes, e-cigarettes do not burn tobacco or produce tar or carbon monoxide—the most damaging elements of cigarette smoke.
However, WHO emphasizes that nicotine remains highly addictive and that e-cigarettes should not be used by non-smokers, especially children.

As WHO calls for stricter global regulations, the world faces a defining question:
Will vaping become a tool to end smoking—or the beginning of a new addiction crisis?