What are the harms of vaping in young people who have never smoked?

Introduction:
This text provides an analysis of the relationship between vaping and smoking among young people who have never smoked. The authors discuss the prevalence of vaping among this population and the potential risks associated with it. They also examine the evidence for a "gateway" effect, where vaping leads to smoking.

Key points:

* Most vaping by young people who have never smoked is occasional and transient.
* Frequent vaping by never-smokers is uncommon, with a prevalence mostly under 2%.
* Vaping has been associated with respiratory symptoms in young people, but many of these individuals have also smoked tobacco.
* There is some evidence from animal studies that high doses of nicotine cause harmful effects on the adolescent brain, but this has not been proven in humans.
* Nicotine dependence is low in young people who vape, and the majority of youth who experiment with vaping do not become regular users.
* Vaping is likely to be far less harmful than smoking, and it may be beneficial for young people who smoke who switch to vaping.
* Overly restrictive policies intended to reduce youth vaping can have counterproductive results.

Main message:
The text suggests that while vaping is not harmless, it is likely to be far less harmful than smoking and may be beneficial for young people who smoke who switch to vaping. a balanced, risk-proportionate approach to regulation is needed to restrict the uptake of vaping by young people who do not smoke while allowing easier access for adults who smoke, for whom it is an effective and popular quitting aid.

Mendelsohn CP, hall W. What are the harms of vaping in young people who have never smoked? The International journal on drug policy. 2023;117:104064. doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2023.104064