NHS Vaping Clinic for Children: A Shocking Reality
Kids Hooked on Vaping – The Startling Truth
Medics at the first NHS vaping clinic for children in the UK have revealed alarming insights into the scale of youth nicotine addiction. Some children are so dependent on vapes that they take them to bed, reaching for them before even getting out of bed in the morning.
The Rise of Youth Nicotine Addiction
When Liverpool’s Alder Hey Children’s Hospital launched its dedicated vaping clinic in January, the number of children seeking help was shocking. Professor Rachel Isba, a paediatric public health expert leading the service, shared that some children start vaping as young as six or seven.
“I’ll ask them, ‘When you wake up in the morning, how long is it before you first use your vape?’ and some children are vaping before they get out of bed,” Prof. Isba explained. “It’s on their bedside table, next to their mobile phone.”
The Scale of the Problem in the UK
Figures from Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) estimate that around one million 11–17-year-olds in the UK have tried vaping. Among them, 230,000 vape more than once a week, highlighting a growing dependence on nicotine.
No NHS Service for Kids Wanting to Quit—Until Now
Prof. Isba was shocked to discover that no dedicated NHS service existed to help children quit vaping. The clinic offers support through nicotine patches, gum, and talk therapy, aiming to help teenagers overcome peer pressure and understand how vaping affects their lives.
Kids Vaping 1,000 to 3,000 Puffs a Week
Some of the young patients at the clinic are reported to be consuming between 1,000 and 3,000 puffs per week, indicating severe addiction. Many do not realise the financial impact of their habit. Prof. Isba encourages them to reflect on their spending:
“If they spend £20 a week on vapes, that’s over £1,000 in a year—money they could save if they quit.”
Expanding Access to the Service
Currently, the service only accepts referrals from hospital doctors. However, plans are in place to allow GP referrals and, eventually, self-referral for children who recognise their dependency and want to quit.
Alder Hey introduced the service in response to consistent requests from young people seeking support. The UK government is also increasing efforts to regulate vaping products, particularly targeting brightly coloured, child-friendly packaging and illegal vapes containing harmful substances.
The Future of Vaping Regulations
The upcoming Tobacco and Vapes Bill is expected to tackle marketing tactics that make vaping attractive to children. Prof. Isba welcomes these regulations, but she also admires the courage of young people who come forward for help.
A Silent Epidemic
“This problem has been building up invisibly,” she said. “For a young person to come to my office and say, ‘I no longer want to do this,’ that is a very brave thing to do.”
As the UK battles rising youth vaping rates, this clinic is an important step towards helping children break free from nicotine addiction.
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