WHO Warns of Global Surge in E-Cigarette Use, Especially Among Children

The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised alarm over the global rise in e-cigarette use, warning that more than 100 million people, including 15 million children, are now using these products, fueling a new wave of nicotine addiction. Children are reported to be nine times more likely than adults to vape, as e-cigarettes are aggressively marketed toward younger populations. WHO officials caution that such trends could undermine decades of progress in tobacco control.

While traditional tobacco use is declining—from 1.38 billion users in 2000 to 1.2 billion in 2024, with significant reductions among women—e-cigarette adoption among teens is increasing rapidly. By the end of 2024, 62 countries lacked e-cigarette regulations, and 74 had no minimum purchase age, exposing youth to nicotine.

Though e-cigarettes are considered less harmful than traditional cigarettes and may aid smoking cessation, they pose addiction risks for non-smokers, particularly children, underscoring the need for stronger global regulatory action.

07-10-2025