More than 35,000 students from seventh to twelfth grade in Puerto Rico have used vapes, or one in five young people, epidemiologist Juan Carlos Reyes said, citing results from the recent Consulta Juvenil study. Reyes warned that the figures for adolescents using electronic cigarettes are rising and noted the problem also reaches sixth-grade students: more than 2,500 of these younger children reported having used vapes.
He said teachers report adolescents as young as fifth grade bringing vapes to school. The figures include public and private school students, and Reyes expressed concern that, according to the statistics, vape use is higher among girls than among boys. He clarified the problem is not limited to Puerto Rico but is a global challenge, recounting that during a recent visit to the Czech Republic he saw teenagers vaping on the street, and that Europe faces a serious problem, especially the United Kingdom, which has some of the highest prevalence rates, while countries like Belgium and France are legislating to ban electronic cigarette use.
The study’s results surprised and worried Reyes, who highlighted not only vaping’s adverse effects on the cardiovascular system but also denounced how easily minors can access electronic cigarettes and pointed out that, according to the study, some parents authorize and facilitate their use among adolescents.