A pulmonologist says the results of a UCT study which found the prevalence of South African high school learners vaping increased sharply by grade, reaching 29.5% among matriculants and in some schools as high as 46%, showed the highly addictive nature of vaping products.

The study titled, “Electronic cigarette usage amongst high school students in South Africa: a mixed methods approach” also found that 16.8% of learners have vaped in the past 30 days.

Researchers used a self-administered brief electronic survey provided to a sample of high school students from January to October 2023 in South Africa. It included questions on vaping usage, initiation, reasons for continuation and indicators of physical and psychological dependence were asked.

At least 25 149 students from 52 South African schools completed the survey.

“The highest frequency of vaping reported by any school grades in our sample were 45.5% for a Grade 11 year, and 46.6% for a Grade 12 year.

“Results showed that the primary reasons for vaping initiation differ substantially from the dominant reasons for ongoing vaping. Adolescents predominantly start vaping out of curiosity, or because of social influences, but continue vaping as a coping strategy for anxiety/ depression/stress, to relax or because they are addicted.

Our results also showed that a considerable proportion of students (∼46%) do not identify addiction as a reason why they continue to vape,” the study stated.

Pulmonologist, professor Richard van Zyl-Smit said the findings showed the highly addictive nature of vaping products.

“This rate of vaping is of particular concern among adolescents due to the highly addictive nature of nicotine,” van Zyl-Smit said.

“Prevention must start as early as junior school, given the high rates already observed among Grade 8 learners.”

UCT neuropsychiatrist and co-author of the study, Professor Jackie Hoare said she was particularly struck by the link between stress and vaping initiation.

“Many students do not recognise their dependence, despite experiencing withdrawal symptoms. This cognitive dissonance warrants deeper exploration to inform education and intervention strategies.”

Parents for Equal Education South Africa (Peesa) founder Vanessa Le Roux said parents needed to be involved in their children’s lives.

“You must know what your child is doing and what he or she carries in their bag.

“Make it difficult to bring into your house, so the habit becomes difficult to maintain and the vape or any drug becomes difficult to keep. We must start knowing what our children are doing.

“Schools further have a responsibility to keep their premises drug and weapon free. Drugs, cigarettes, weapons, are not allowed but it is on school grounds. We need to find solutions.

Government needs to invest more in keeping our children safe,” she said.

Cape Times

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Teen vaping rockets among South African high school learners – UCT study