Project overview
There is growing concern about the numbers of young people vaping. Concern is expressed by young people, their parents and their teachers. The increasing numbers are highlighted in recent ASH reports.
Research from Faculty of Medicine and NIHR Biomedical Research Centre Respiratory theme support the concern around young people vaping; the active ingredient of e-cigarettes is nicotine, which is highly addictive and can be dangerous. Nicotine can have negative effects on brain development in adolescents. There is not yet enough data on the long-term effects of vaping on health, but we our work shows that long-term cigarette use leads to respiratory and other issues by early adulthood.5 Along with nicotine there are also potential health risks associated with other ingredients of e-cigarettes. This is concerning as a quarter of the products purchased were not up to UK standards, possibly containing banned chemicals or super-strength nicotine.2 Of particular relevance to LifeLab, with its focus on engaging young people with the understanding of the epigenetic effects of lifestyle choices, is research showing that children of fathers who smoke, particularly fathers who start smoking in adolescence (<15 years), have poorer lung function and increased risk of asthma.6,7 There is evidence from animal models that nicotine alone can cause these effects.8
Key aims and objectives:
To explore with young people, their understanding of the risks involved with vaping, drawing on UoS research showing the science behind negative impacts of vaping. Through discussion with young people, learning from their experience and perspective of what works with young people to use these insights to co-create resources to support teachers and youth workers in opening up conversations with young people about vaping.
Aims:
To conduct focus groups with young people to:
• explore motivations to experiment with vaping
• consider the levers that young people think will be most effective in challenging vaping behaviours
• co-create resources for sharing online and in-person, in schools, youth groups and with families
Research questions:
• What are the motivations of young people to experiment with vaping?
• What levers to engage young people will be most effective to use in co-created resources to support teachers and youth workers in delivering sessions to young people around vaping (prevention and cessation)
Research from Faculty of Medicine and NIHR Biomedical Research Centre Respiratory theme support the concern around young people vaping; the active ingredient of e-cigarettes is nicotine, which is highly addictive and can be dangerous. Nicotine can have negative effects on brain development in adolescents. There is not yet enough data on the long-term effects of vaping on health, but we our work shows that long-term cigarette use leads to respiratory and other issues by early adulthood.5 Along with nicotine there are also potential health risks associated with other ingredients of e-cigarettes. This is concerning as a quarter of the products purchased were not up to UK standards, possibly containing banned chemicals or super-strength nicotine.2 Of particular relevance to LifeLab, with its focus on engaging young people with the understanding of the epigenetic effects of lifestyle choices, is research showing that children of fathers who smoke, particularly fathers who start smoking in adolescence (<15 years), have poorer lung function and increased risk of asthma.6,7 There is evidence from animal models that nicotine alone can cause these effects.8
Key aims and objectives:
To explore with young people, their understanding of the risks involved with vaping, drawing on UoS research showing the science behind negative impacts of vaping. Through discussion with young people, learning from their experience and perspective of what works with young people to use these insights to co-create resources to support teachers and youth workers in opening up conversations with young people about vaping.
Aims:
To conduct focus groups with young people to:
• explore motivations to experiment with vaping
• consider the levers that young people think will be most effective in challenging vaping behaviours
• co-create resources for sharing online and in-person, in schools, youth groups and with families
Research questions:
• What are the motivations of young people to experiment with vaping?
• What levers to engage young people will be most effective to use in co-created resources to support teachers and youth workers in delivering sessions to young people around vaping (prevention and cessation)
Staff
Lead researcher
Other researchers
