Vaping among young people - Reaction BAoP on the flemish Pano documentary
As the Belgian Academy of Paediatrics and all Belgian paediatricians, we would like to express our horror and sound the alarm about the dangers of vaping for young people after seeing the Flemish Pano documentary of Wednesday 23 April 2025 on VRT.
Vaping is not only addictive, but it is also extremely harmful to the short-term and long-term health of children and young people.
As many as 1 in 8 young people have used a vape in the past year. There are even elementary school children who are already starting to vape.
Vape producers seduce young people by using dubious marketing strategies, glitzy colors, attractive flavors such as fruits, sweets. They do not sufficiently mention the health risks:
- Many vapes produce more toxic and addictive nicotine (up to ten times more) than cigarettes;
- Vaping young people are more likely to smoke cigarettes later on. 51 percent of young people between the ages of 12 and 26 who smoke tobacco say it started with vaping for them. (Kom op tegen kanker, 2024);
- Nicotine disrupts brain development, which is irreparable;
- Nicotine increases the risk of various mental health problems
- The substances and metals released during vaping are toxic and can accumulate in organs and cause damage.
- These long-term effects are usually only visible after 10 to 20 years;
- Vapes with THC liquid may contain the synthetic and harmful substance 'spice'. This substance is much more potent and addictive than cannabis. It can cause users to collapse, have chest pain, or have strokes.
As the Belgian Academy of Paediatrics, we therefore join the campaigns against the sale and use of vapes.
From a professional and social responsibility, we call on everyone to protect our children by disseminating correct and objective information to parents and young people in order to get them to know the facts and thus make more informed choices.
In parallel, we call on all policymakers across jurisdictions to work together and do everything in their power through strong legislation and enforcement to prioritize the health of our young people and to take a stand against the danger of vaping.