UK vaping rates rise among non-smokers

Recent data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) indicates that more than one million people in the UK who have never smoked cigarettes are now using vapes, a figure that has increased year-on-year.

While vaping was originally introduced as a tool to help smokers quit cigarettes, it has become a habitual activity for many non-smokers. The nicotine in vapes is highly addictive, often leading to withdrawal symptoms such as irritability and anxiety. Some users report using vaping as a way to manage social anxiety or as a mindless, repetitive habit.

Although the NHS notes that vaping nicotine is less harmful than smoking traditional cigarettes, the long-term health effects of vaping remain unclear.