Latest research finds that young people ARE choosing E-cigarettes

A survey carried out with Head Teachers and Teachers across England has found that electronic cigarettes (otherwise known as E-cigarettes) are being used by children under 16.

72 schools across England took part in the survey carried out by Social Change UK, a social research and campaign company based in Lincoln. 59 schools (82%) said that they were aware of students using E-cigarettes with just 18% saying they were unsure if their students were using them.

When asked if they had confiscated any E-cigarettes in the past six months 53 schools said that they had (74%). 18 schools (25%) said that they had not confiscated any and one school in the South East of England said that they allowed students to use E-cigarettes.

When asked how many e-cigarettes were confiscated each week, 53 schools admitted to confiscating up to ten E-cigarettes a week. This could mean that in just 53 schools, up to 500 are being confiscated on a weekly basis.

Kelly Evans, Director at Social Change UK said: “Too often we have heard that E-cigarettes are only being used by people trying to quit smoking and that just isn't the case. These products and all their flavours are highly appealing to children and young people – some who have never smoked - and we need to ask questions about them - namely are they safe?"

In some areas, teachers have become so concerned they have contacted the police or conducted their own research on the effects of using E-cigarettes. One Head Teacher in Lancashire called the police after discovering that market stalls in the area were targeting children. A school in the South of England was particularly worried that E-cigarettes were a form of substance misuse as they noticed students behaving very aggressively following their use but their findings were inconclusive.

Head Teachers and Teachers are also concerned that the message to young people and adults seems to be that E-cigarettes are a "good thing" but there is concern by teachers that E-cigarette use is encouraging "smoking behaviour".

Kelly Evans continued: "Over the last 12 months we have seen the marketing of E-cigarettes shifting from being an "aid" to stop smoking to something we must desire, something we must have and something we must taste. The allure of the different flavours from redbull, strawberry milkshake and gummy bear flavour E-cigarettes is so tempting it is creating a generation of vapour hungry school kids. And without trying to sound too Mary Whitehouse, I would like to NOT see young people manipulated and sucked into a chemical cloud created in large by the very people who created a large smoke cloud for so many generations".

One Head Teacher in Cheshire said: "I'm a chemistry graduate and I'm very concerned about anyone (young or old) inhaling unregulated and unknown substances. It may be that after proper research and with regulation that these can be part of the solution to stopping smoking, but for now I'm taking a cautious view and banning them"

Schools were also asked whether they had a clear no smoking policy. 71 schools (98%) stated that they do have a clear no smoking policy in place. Just over half (58%) said that their policy did include the use of E-cigarettes.

Teachers and head teachers were also asked if they have educated their students about E-cigarettes. 25 schools (35%) said they have, while 21 schools (29%) have not. However, 24 schools (33%) stated that they would soon be educating their students on E-cigarettes.

When asked if they thought it was necessary to educate young people on E-cigarettes, 44 head teachers (61%) said yes and stated that they are increasingly concerned. 17 Head Teachers (24%) said yes but only if they are proven dangerous. Five Head Teachers (6%) weren’t sure while three (4%) thought that it is not necessary to provide education on E-cigarettes to young people.

 

Notes

Some of the comments we received from Head Teachers and Teachers included:

"It is becoming an increasing issue. We will be changing our policy to include the use of electronic cigarettes". (Hertfordshire Head Teacher)

"We are seeing increasing use by students Year 10 and above. They are using them in toilet cubicles where they won't be caught. But they are confiscated if caught. Some students did initially think it would be ok to use in a lesson! Swiftly addressed and hasn't reoccurred. Will add to Governors policy at next review and make it clear in Parent Information via Newsletter". (Derbyshire, Teacher)

"We have had incidents of 7 students using electronic shisha pens over the course of this academic year (3 outside school and 4 on site). The students seem unaware that many of these contain nicotine even though they knew that we as a school would not be happy with them doing this either on site or off. Some of the students believed that shop keepers would not sell these to children if it were illegal/ harmful" (Greater London, Head Teacher)

What are Electronic Cigarettes?

Electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigarettes or vapours, are electronic devices, which look like tobacco cigarettes. We know that most people who start smoking start as a young person - between 11-14 years. The device heats up liquid nicotine, which is inhaled as water vapour. Seen as "not as bad" as tobacco cigarettes, they do contain liquid nicotine and other chemicals.

Schools

The schools that took part are based in the following areas: Tyne and Wear, Cumbria, Lancashire, West Yorkshire, Redcar and Cleveland, North East Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Cheshire West and Chester, Staffordshire, Stoke on Trent, West Midlands, Leicestershire, Rutland, Norfolk, Suffolk, Hertfordshire, Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Greater London, Kent, Surrey, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Dorset, Devon, Cornwall, Hartlepool, Cambridgeshire, Buckinghamshire

About Social Change UK

We are a social research and campaign company working in the UK, Europe and Australia. We do two things. We carry out social research to find out more about people and we design campaigns that build emotional connections and encourage people to think and act.

We do this by blending our unique skill set in research, psychology, design, marketing and PR. Our research is insightful and our campaigns are stronger and more successful because of this approach.

Our clients range from government departments, local authorities, and NHS organisations to multi-million pound companies and household brands who trust us with their brief.

Interview requests: Please contact Kelly Evans, 01522 837250