A prominent paediatrician has raised the alarm that vaping is fuelling a rise in behavioural issues within Scotland's secondary schools, as pupils experiencing nicotine withdrawal become disruptive in class. Surveys indicate that one in ten Scottish students aged 11 to 17 regularly use e-cigarettes. Schools have reported that students frequently skip lessons to vape in toilets, often triggering fire alarms.
Addiction and Withdrawal Symptoms
Professor Steve Turner, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), stated that many of these young vapers are likely addicted to nicotine. He noted, "They're vaping on a regular basis, so they're almost certainly addicted, because that's the age at which people are most likely to become addicted." He added that teachers are witnessing the harmful effects firsthand: "Children who are using vapes are addicted and because of their withdrawal symptoms they're not attentive in class, they're disruptive in class. They are a huge problem in our academies and secondary schools in Scotland."
According to the NHS, nicotine dependence means users need the substance to feel normal. Withdrawal can cause irritability, frustration, anger, anxiety, tension, low mood, and difficulty concentrating. Professor Turner emphasised that teachers can identify students struggling with nicotine addiction when they cannot vape continuously.
Impact on Home Life
He also suggested that behavioural issues at home may be misattributed to typical teenage behaviour, when in fact they stem from nicotine withdrawal. "Parents might just put it down to teenagers being teenagers, whereas actually, what the children are experiencing is nicotine withdrawal," he explained.
Legislative Response
The recently enacted Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which received Royal Assent last week, aims to address the issue. It makes it illegal across the UK to sell tobacco to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009. The Act also bans advertising and sponsorship of vapes and nicotine products, and gives powers to restrict packaging, branding, and displays designed to appeal to children.
Professor Turner welcomed the Bill, which the RCPCH helped shape, stating it "will reduce the unacceptable burden that tobacco and vaping places on today's youth, and also protect future generations from the harms of nicotine addiction."
Call for Support for Addicted Youth
However, he stressed the need to address existing addiction among minors. "One of the problems that we have is that we've now allowed children under the age of 18 to get addicted to nicotine. They absolutely need to recognise that children are addicted to nicotine, and they need help in coming out of that addiction," he said. While NHS Scotland offers smoking cessation programmes for all ages, Professor Turner urged more targeted support for addicted youngsters.
