Charity hearing how children as young as nine vaping in West Yorkshire
It's after a study found children who vape are three times more likely to become cigarette smokers
The report is the largest ever review into youth vaping, and has been conducted by experts at the University of York and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).
The research also suggests young vapers have an increased risk of suffering from breathing-related illnesses and substance abuse.
Dr Rebecca Glover, an assistant professor at LSHTM, said: "Vaping is having a detrimental impact on the health of young people globally and vaping appears to be a gateway to other substances.
"Our study provides the strongest evidence to date that young people globally face a serious range of physical and psychological harms from vaping and are at higher risk of transitioning to smoking."
Based on the data of 384 different studies, these potential harms included migraines, lower sperm counts, pneumonia, depression, and suicidal thoughts.
In West Yorkshire, a Bradford-based youth health charity says primary school children as young as nine are regularly vaping.
According to CEO of Step 2, Liz Robinson, primary school pupils they speak tell them an average of 10 per cent of their nine to 11-year-old classmates vape.
She said: “Some of them are picking up vapes they find on the floor – which will hopefully be happening less with fewer disposables around – some of them are picking up vapes at home, and some of them are being given them by older siblings.
“Already by the end of primary school we are aware that some people are addicted to vaping.”
A ban on disposable vapes was introduced in June this year, with the aim of combatting sales to young people.
Robinson has also seen the transition of older teenagers moving towards cigarettes, adding: “What we’re getting from them is they see vaping as a bit of a kiddy thing and they’re feeling a bit grown up for it.
“They’re still addicted to nicotine, so some of them are moving onto cigarettes, and some of them are moving onto vapes that contain other things, like THC that contain more dangerous substances.”