DSM Foundation responds to ASH’s annual survey on youth vaping in Great Britain

The DSM Foundation, a charity dedicated to drug education, has welcomed new data released by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) showing stability in vaping rates among young people aged 11–17 in Great Britain. 

However, the charity echoes ASH’s concern over a significant increase in those identifying as “ever smokers,” rising from 14% in 2023 to 21% in 2025.

The YouGov survey, which polled 2,746 individuals aged 11–17, reveals that rates of "ever vaping" (20%), "current vaping" (7%), and "regular vaping" (4%) have plateaued. These behaviours remain more prevalent among current or former smokers, and overall smoking rates among this age group continue to be low.

Among younger respondents aged 11–15, just 16% reported having ever tried vaping, a figure that has remained steady in recent years. Notably, 95% of this group do not currently vape, underscoring the relative rarity of regular use among younger teens.

The survey was conducted prior to the UK-wide ban on disposable vapes enacted on June 1, 2025, hence disposable devices remained the most commonly used, although popularity dropped from 69% in 2023 to 42% in 2025. When asked how they would respond to the ban:

25% said they would stop vaping altogether

59% indicated they would continue, with 67% planning to switch to reusable devices and 44% saying they would turn to illicit disposable products.

Concerningly, nearly half of youth vapers (47%) reported experiencing strong or very strong urges to vape – up from 26% in 2020 – indicating rising levels of dependence. Around 30% admitted to using nicotine concentrations at or above the adult legal limit (20mg/ml), while a similar proportion were unsure or declined to disclose their usual strength.

Social influence remains a dominant factor, with over three-quarters receiving their first vape from someone they knew, typically a friend. Despite legal restrictions, 46% of underage vapers said they had purchased devices from shops, while 25% sourced them informally.

Exposure to promotional content continues to play a role, with:

55% seeing vape advertising in shops

29% encountering promotions online, most commonly on TikTok, followed by YouTube and Instagram

“DSM founder and director Fiona Spargo-Mabbs OBE told That's Health: “This annual survey by ASH is such a valuable insight for us as a drug education charity into trends in young people’s experiences of vaping and smoking. It enables us to ensure our provision is relevant, current and of use to young people, and the adults in their lives, when it comes to managing decisions that affect their health and wellbeing. 

"With such significant shifts in policy relating to vaping, as well as in public perceptions and attitudes to vaping, smoking and other nicotine products, having current data is so important. Seeing this rise in young people smoking after so many years of steady low numbers highlights this importance – this is a real concern that we need to respond to urgently.”

https://www.dsmfoundation.org.uk

"Blocking smokers access to better alternatives like vaping transgress human rights" says health group

"Adult smokers should be given assistance and information to quit smoking, such as access to safer alternatives," said a spokesman for ECST.

Denying adult consumers access to smoke-free products is a violation of human rights, public health advocacy groups said in a letter to the United Nations (UN).

Asa Saligupta, director of ENDS Cigarette Smoke Thailand (ECST), one of the signatories in the open letter to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk dated October 16, 2023, said the World Health Organization (WHO) is depriving adult smokers of the right to choose less harmful products which violates their human rights.

The WHO, founded in 1948, is the UN agency that connects nations, partners and people to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable.

"How will history judge the WHO 20 to 30 years from now? The global agency tasked to look after the health of the world causes millions of deaths because it's ignoring the science that supports tobacco harm reduction," Saligupta said in reaction to the open letter.

ECST and other signatories issued the statement as the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control prepares to convene the Tenth Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP10) on November 20 to 25, 2023.

The WHO FCTC has refused to acknowledge the contribution of innovative smoke-free products in the decline of smoking prevalence in countries like Sweden, Japan, and the UK.

Despite decades of WHO's tobacco control programme, in excess of 1 billion people across the world continue to smoke, according to Saligupta.

Saligupta said all citizens have the "Right to Health" as recognised and enshrined in UN treaties and documents, the WHO constitution, and its Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).

"Adult smokers should be given assistance and information to quit smoking, such as access to safer alternatives," Saligupta said. "They should be understood and helped, not stigmatised or alienated."

Studies show a switch from smoking to safer alternatives reduces the harm caused by smoking. The open letter says encouraging harm reduction helps people take positive steps to protect their health while respecting their freedoms and rights.

Saligupta said no less than the UN Human Rights Office recognises the harm reduction approach to drug use as an "obligation" under the Right to Health.

Unfortunately, the WHO adopts a different approach to harm reduction in relation to smoking. "By implementing policies that prevent access to safer alternatives to smoking, governments are violating the Right to Health and making global public health less equitable," the groups said in its open letter.

Saligupta said it's vital adult smokers are provided with scientific information that will assist them  to decide on their options, including the availability of safer alternative nicotine products compared to combustible cigarettes.

A 2022 Cochrane review on vaping for smoking cessation showed nicotine vaping helps more people quit smoking at six months or longer than nicotine replacement therapy. Cochrane is a global, independent network of researchers, practitioners, patients, caregivers, and health stakeholders who collect high-quality evidence on specific health topics.

Saligupta said harm reduction, or the use of less harmful alternatives like electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco, and other smoke-free products, is aligned with the Right to Health.

"Governments and health authorities should respect the rights of adult smokers to move away from smoking with the help of innovative products that deliver far less harm. Depriving them of this opportunity isn't just a violation of human rights but also a failure to help adult smokers enjoy better lives," said Saligupta.

Saligupta joined the call for the WHO FCTC to recognise harm reduction in relation to smoking as a legitimate and evidence-based strategy.

He said the WHO should review its position on safer alternative nicotine products based on the latest scientific and empirical evidence and not on moralistic or prohibitionist policies that failed to address the smoking problem over the past decades.

Signatories in the open letter said tobacco harm reduction strategies are supported by the weight of scientific evidence showing safer alternative nicotine products are effective tools to help smokers change and move away from smoking.

FACTFILE: Cigarette Smoke Thailand (ECST) is a consumer advocacy organization that strives to promote tobacco harm reduction in the face of blanket bans, fines and jail time for consumers who wish to use alternative nicotine consumption products, specifically Electronic Liquid Vaporisers.

(Image courtesy R-Region from Pixabay)