Underage Vaping in Schools: A Growing Crisis and How Vape Guardian Helps Curb It

Vaping among school-aged children has become an urgent public health concern in the UK. In 2024, 18% of 11–17-year-olds reported ever having tried an e-cigarette, and 7.2% are current vapers—levels that have remained stubbornly high despite policy efforts to curb youth access ASHASH. More alarmingly, 9% of 11–15-year-olds vape frequently, showing that experimentation often evolves into regular use NHS England.

Vaping isn’t a harmless pastime. Nicotine exposure during adolescence can disrupt brain development, impair attention and learning, and heighten the risk of future substance dependence Vox. Beyond health, vaping in schools is linked to lost instructional time, disciplinary incidents, and strained staff resources—challenges many institutions simply aren’t equipped to manage.

Why Teens Vape—and Why It’s So Easy

Research shows that 22% of 11-year-olds and 62% of 17-year-olds find vapes “very easy or easy” to obtain, with friends or family being the most common sources Thorax. Flavours, discreet form factors (pens, USB sticks), and aggressive marketing further entice children who might otherwise never experiment with nicotine.

A recent investigation found that one in seven children has been caught vaping on school premises—nearly half of those were under 11 years old—and 46% of schools report daily incidents of students vaping in washrooms or common areas The Times. These rising incidents disrupt learning and place significant burdens on school leaders.

Policy Actions: A Step Forward, but More Is Needed

From June 1, 2025, England and Wales will ban disposable vapes to limit single-use plastics and reduce youth appeal. The legislation gives businesses time to sell existing stocks, but experts warn a ban alone won’t end underage vaping without robust enforcement and school-based detection measures Financial Times.

Vape Guardian: Proactive Vape Detection in Schools

Rather than waiting for a student to be caught mid-vape, schools need real-time vape detection systems. This is where Vape Guardian makes a difference:

• Instant Alerts: Our sensors detect vape aerosol traces within seconds, sending real-time notifications to administrators’ dashboards and mobile devices.

• Custom Integration: Seamless links to MIS systems allow incident logging alongside attendance and behaviour records—simplifying follow-up and parental communication.

• Occupancy Monitoring: Prevent crowding in high-risk areas (e.g., washrooms) with capacity alerts that reduce opportunities for hidden vaping.

• Data-Driven Insights: Air-quality readings help trace hotspots and identify patterns of use, empowering targeted education and intervention campaigns.

• Scalable Management: Unlimited staff logins with role-based access mean secure internal control—no more shared admin passwords or support-ticket delays.

By embedding school vape sensors directly into your existing network (via PoE or secure battery-powered units), institutions stay one step ahead of underage vaping.

Beyond Detection: Fostering a Vape-Free Culture

Detection technology must be paired with education. Vape Guardian partners with schools to provide evidence-based vaping prevention materials, parent workshops, and student‐led peer-education programs. When students know risks—backed by local data on incident frequency and device interception—they’re more likely to resist peer pressure.

Take Action Today

Underage vaping in schools undermines both student health and academic success. With nearly one million children aged 11–17 having tried vaping this year The Times, ignoring the problem is no longer an option.

Discover how Vape Guardian’s vape detection in schools can protect your students and staff:

• Request a demo: See real-time alerts and dashboard reporting in action.

• Download our white paper: Learn best practices for combining detection technology with prevention programs.

• Contact our team: We’ll tailor a solution to your school’s layout, budget, and policy goals.

Together, we can turn the tide on underage vaping—keeping our schools safe, healthy, and vape-free.

Footnotes

1. ASH

   Use of vapes (e-cigarettes) among young people in Great Britain

   The proportion of young people aged 11- 17 who have ever vaped has not significantly changed between 2023 (20%) and 2024 (18%) (Figure 1). Current vaping among ...
   ASH

   [PDF] Use of e-cigarettes (vapes) among young people in Great Britain

   October 13, 2023 — In March/April 2023 the proportion of children experimenting with vaping had grown by 50% year on year, from one in thirteen to one in nine.
   NHS England

   Almost 1 in 10 secondary school pupils currently vape, new NHS ...

   A quarter of 11 to 15-year-olds have tried vaping and nearly 1 in 10 (9%) do it frequently, according to new statistics published today.
   Vox

   How a fix for smoking sparked a new crisis

   May 8, 2025 — E-cigarettes were introduced as a harm-reduction alternative to traditional smoking, aiming to provide nicotine without the harmful toxins of combustible tobacco. Since their invention over 20 years ago, e-cigarettes have contributed to a decline in lung cancer rates and are considered safer than cigarettes by public health experts. They have proven effective in helping smokers quit, particularly in controlled trials, and may account for hundreds of thousands of years of life saved. However, vaping has also sparked a new crisis, especially among teens and young adults who may have never otherwise used tobacco. By 2019, nearly one-third of U.S. high schoolers had tried vaping, significantly increasing nicotine exposure in youth. Despite being a better option for current smokers, e-cigarettes carry health risks including exposure to harmful aerosols, heavy metals, and nicotine addiction. Misperceptions about safety initially fueled their popularity among nonsmokers. Now, public perceptions are shifting due to media coverage of vaping-related illnesses. Experts are divided on how to regulate vaping: some call for stringent restrictions, while others support harm reduction strategies that emphasize proper guidance and education. Flavored vape bans, for example, may lead some youth to switch to traditional smoking. The consensus is clear: if you smoke, switching to vaping might help; if not, don’t start.
   Thorax

   P131 Prevalence and types of vaping in UK schoolchildren in 2024

   22% of 11-year-olds report vapes are 'very easy or easy' to get hold of, rising to 62% of 17-year-olds, with friends or family being the most common source.
   The Times

   Revealed: the hidden scale of children vaping in school

   October 11, 2024 — A recent investigation highlights a significant rise in vaping among school children, with some parents even supplying vapes. This issue is prevalent in both England and Wales, with 46% of schools catching children vaping daily. Schools are adopting various measures, such as installing vape alarms, employing CCTV, and conducting bag searches, to combat this trend. Vapes, often disguised as highlighter pens or sweets, are also becoming popular among younger children, including those in primary schools. The broader picture reveals that nearly one million children aged 11 to 17 have tried e-cigarettes this year, with vaping becoming a normalized part of teenage life. Despite the unknown long-term health effects, schools are increasingly concerned, and some parents remain indifferent or supportive. The Independent British Vape Trade Association calls for stricter regulations, while some heads advocate for better education on vaping risks. Vaping among wealthier families is more prevalent, raising concerns about the socioeconomic factors influencing this behavior.
   Financial Times

   Disposable vapes to be banned in England and Wales

   October 24, 2024 — From next summer, England and Wales will implement a ban on disposable vapes to safeguard children's health and address waste issues. The UK government's legislation, introduced to