Doctors around the world are raising serious concerns that vaping may be fueling a new wave of nicotine addiction, particularly among children and teenagers. Once promoted as a safer substitute for smoking, e-cigarettes are now linked to cardiovascular problems, lung injury, and even cancer risk, according to growing scientific evidence.
Professor Maja-Lisa Løchen, a senior cardiologist at the University Hospital of North Norway, noted that while e-cigarettes have only been available for about 15 years, research has already revealed clear dangers. “We now know enough to say these products are not harmless,” she said during the European Society of Cardiology congress in Madrid.
The rise in youth vaping is especially worrying. A European survey found that more than one in five 15- and 16-year-olds use e-cigarettes regularly—up sharply from just a few years ago. Experts warn vaping is often a “gateway” to smoking, reversing decades of progress in cutting tobacco use.
Nicotine, particularly harmful to developing brains, can impair memory, focus, and learning. Combined with toxic chemicals released from heated vape liquids, the risks are severe. Specialists say stronger regulation and widespread education are urgently needed to counter the industry’s marketing and protect young people.
