WHO Calls Youth E-Cigarette and Alcohol Use “Alarming”

Copenhagen, Denmark According to research issued on Thursday by the World Health Organization’s (WHO) European office, the widespread use of alcohol and e-cigarettes among teenagers is “alarming” and suggests steps to prevent access.

The WHO said that the study results, which included 280,000 youths in Europe, Central Asia, and Canada who were 11, 13, and 15 years old, presented a “concerning picture” of youth drug usage.

“The long-term consequences of these trends are significant, and policy-makers cannot afford to ignore these alarming findings,” the organization for health said.

According to the research, 57% of 15-year-olds had used alcohol at least once; this percentage was higher for females (59%) than for boys (56%).

According to the WHO, females’ total drinking has climbed while boys’ overall drinking has declined.

Regarding current usage, which is defined as having used alcohol at least once in the previous 30 days, 8% of 11-year-old males and 5% of girls reported having done so.

However, by the time they were 15 years old, females had surpassed boys in this regard; 38% of girls reported having used alcohol at least once in the previous 30 days, compared to 36% of boys.

WHO Europe, which unites 53 nations, including many in Central Asia, said, “These findings highlight how available and normalised alcohol is, showing the urgent need for better policy measures to protect children and young people from harms caused by alcohol.”

Furthermore, 9% of youngsters said they had at least two instances of “significant drunkenness” in their past.

This incidence increased from 5% among 13-year-olds to 20% among 15-year-olds, according to the WHO, “demonstrating an escalating trend in alcohol abuse among youth”.

costly repercussions

The study also noted how teens are using e-cigarettes, also known as vapes, at higher rates.

Despite the fact that smoking is on the decline—13 percent of 11- to 15-year-olds reported smoking in 2022, which is two percentage points less than four years earlier—the survey also found that a large number of these individuals have switched to e-cigarettes, which have surpassed cigarettes in popularity among teenagers.

Of the 15-year-old population, almost 32% had used an e-cigarette, and 20% said they had used one in the last 30 days.

WHO Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge said in a statement that “the widespread use of harmful substances among children in many countries across the European Region—and beyond—is a serious public health threat.”

Kluge demanded a prohibition on flavoring chemicals, limits on promotion and availability, and greater taxation.

“Engaging in high-risk behaviours during the adolescent years can shape adult behaviour, with substance use at an early age being linked to a higher risk of addiction,” the paper said.

“The consequences are costly for them and society,” it said.

Meanwhile, the number of 15-year-olds who had ever used cannabis had decreased to 12%, a drop of four percentage points in as many years.

The WHO conducts the HBSC (Health Behaviour in School-aged Children) survey every four years, which looks at the health-related behaviour of children aged 11, 13, and 15 and includes a part on drug use.