According to Independent UK, a new study published in the journal PLOS Mental Health shows that adolescents who use e-cigarettes or traditional cigarettes are at higher risk of symptoms of depression and anxiety. This result raises concerns about the impact of nicotine on the mental health of young people during the important stage of development.
Researchers at the University of West Virginia analyzed data from the National Survey on Tobacco Harm for Adults 2021-2023, with more than 60,000 junior high and high school students participating. Of these, 21.31% said they have used tobacco products, 9.94% used e-cigarettes, 3.61% only smoked traditional cigarettes, and 7.80% used both.
The survey results showed that 25.21% of students had symptoms related to depression and 29.55% had symptoms of anxiety. Compared to the non-smoking group, adolescents who smoke e-cigarettes or traditional cigarettes have a significantly higher risk of mental health. In particular, the group using both products had the highest rate of reporting psychological problems.
In the UK, according to Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), there are currently about 1.1 million young people aged 11 to 17 who smoke e-cigarettes and 100,000 who smoke. Meanwhile, medical data shows that for every 6 children aged 5 to 16, 1 child had a mental health problem in 2020, an increase compared to the rate of 1/9 in 2017.
Experts say the link between addiction and mental health is clear. Dr Lion Shahab, a member of the British Psychological Association, said that many adolescents currently report Vaping addiction to a level similar to smoking, and this is not good for mental health.
Meanwhile, Dr Johnathan Livingstone-Banks, University of Oxford, notes that the relationship can be two-way: young people with psychological problems are more likely to experiment with e-cigarettes. However, he emphasized that evidence in adults shows that quitting smoking can improve mental health.
