E-Cigarette Crisis in English Schools: Students Hospitalized, Schools on High Alert
Secondary schools in England are facing a serious public health crisis due to the rapid spread of e-cigarette use among young people. Cases of students being hospitalized, pupils secretly vaping in school toilets, and thousands of pounds being spent to combat the problem have raised major concerns across the education sector.
According to a survey of around 7,000 teachers, 52% say that vaping is a serious problem in their schools. About 20% of schools have installed vape detectors, while 35% have deployed extra staff to prevent students from using e-cigarettes.
Data from the World Health Organization shows that around 15 million children aged 13 to 15 worldwide use e-cigarettes, and that children are nine times more likely to vape than adults. While the UK government has announced that it is taking urgent action to address this “worrying increase” in youth vaping, teachers’ unions are calling for more funding for schools and clearer guidance for staff on how to deal with the issue.