VAPING: consultations with children and young people

Tender description

Medway Council is seeking tenders from a suitably skilled provider to deliver insight and engagement work with local children, young people, parents, carers, teachers, and youth workers to explore vaping behaviours. In 2022, an Ash (Action on Smoking and Health) youth vaping survey completed by 2,613 young people, aged 11 to 18 years old found: - Vaping prevalence (including occasional and regular vaping) to have increased significantly to 8.6% in 2022, compared with 4% in 2021, and 4.8% in 2020 - An increase in 11-17 year olds who have ever used a vape, 15.8% in 2022, compared to 11.2% in 2021 - 7% of 11-17 year olds were current vapers, compared to 3.3% in 2021 Despite use among never smokers remaining low and mostly experimental, the likelihood of trying or currently using e-cigarettes increases with age and smoking status. There has been a significant increase in the use of disposable/single use products, happening concurrently with higher levels of youth use. The national recommendation is that continued surveillance is needed. Keywords: Vaping, Smoking, Consultation, Vape, Marketing