Nearly 30% of Grade 12 pupils in South Africa are actively vaping, according to a study.

Conducted across 52 schools with a sample size of 25,000 learners, the study sheds light on the rising prevalence of vaping among adolescents, with serious implications for public health.

The University of Cape Town (UCT) study was published in The Lancet EClinical Medicine on November 29, 2024.

The research found that 16.8% of high school pupils had used a vaping device in the past 30 days, with matriculants (Grade 12 learners) accounting for 29.5%.

Alarmingly, in some schools, vaping prevalence reached as high as 46%. This far surpasses rates of tobacco cigarette use (2%), cannabis use (5%), and hookah pipe use (3%).

The study revealed that between 40% and 60% of adolescent vapers displayed signs of nicotine addiction, including withdrawal symptoms like needing to vape immediately upon waking.

Professor Richard van Zyl-Smit, a pulmonologist and leading expert in tobacco and vaping research at Groote Schuur Hospital, warned of the long-term consequences.

“Nicotine use during adolescence can harm the developing brain, with potential long-term effects on learning, memory, and attention. Alarmingly, it also increases the risk of progression to conventional cigarette smoking,” Van Zyl-Smit said.

Social pressures, curiosity, and stress relief were identified as primary drivers of vaping among learners. These behaviours often evolve into dependency, exacerbating the problem.

The study also revealed disparities in vaping prevalence based on school fees: schools charging between R20,000 and R40,000 annually reported the highest rates (19.5%), while schools with fees exceeding R90,000 recorded 14.6%.

Co-author Professor Jackie Hoare highlighted an additional challenge: “Many students do not recognise their dependence, despite experiencing withdrawal symptoms."

"This cognitive dissonance warrants deeper exploration to inform education and intervention strategies.”

The findings provide critical evidence for policymakers to address vaping among adolescents.

“This data equips us with the evidence needed to shape policies that regulate access, marketing, and advertising of vaping products to adolescents,” Van Zyl-Smit said.

The study’s results call for urgent attention to the public health implications of vaping and the need for targeted interventions in schools to curb this growing epidemic.

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Nearly a third of SA Grade 12 pupils are vaping, study finds