UK establishes rehab facility for teenage vapers

(MENAFN) The UK’s National health Service (NHS) has opened a clinic at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool to support teenagers in quitting vaping, addressing the increasing use of e-cigarettes among young people. The clinic, which began seeing patients last month, is aimed at helping 11- to 15-year-olds, a group whose vaping rates have risen despite being lower than those of older teens.

Vaping among British youth has surged in recent years, although recent data shows a slight decrease in use. Last year, 18% of 11- to 18-year-olds reported vaping, down from 20% in 2023 but still higher than 2019’s 13%. The clinic will offer personalized treatments, including nicotine replacement therapy and behavioral support, to help tackle vaping dependence and its potential long-term harms.

In addition to regular e-cigarettes, the issue is compounded by illegal vapes, some of which have been found to contain harmful substances, such as the drug spice. The clinic’s opening comes amid rising concerns about vaping’s health risks and increased government efforts globally to address underage nicotine use.

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