Vaping addiction among people hooked on booze or drugs has soared by nearly a third in a year, say experts. And 80 per cent of those being treated by a leading rehab company are unable to quit e-cigs.
UK Addiction Treatment Centres said 2500 admitted to its eight clinics for alcohol and drug problems in the last year were also hooked on vapes. It compares to 1900 for the previous 12 months.
Lead therapist Lee Fernandes said: “This year around 80 per cent who need help also have a vaping addiction in parallel to their substance addiction. We’re concerned, especially for our younger generation who are in the grip of a vape addiction crisis.”
The group – which has 200 UK detox and rehab beds – says 5.4million young Brits regularly vape. According to their poll of 2000 young people, 1.1million puff at least once a day and 2.5million at least once a week.
Fernandes added: “Medically, we don’t know the severity of what vaping can do to the body but we do know this is one of the most difficult things to give up.”
He spoke hours after the Government announced a ban on the sale of disposable vapes in England and Wales next year. The Scottish Parliament had already passed regulations bringing the ban into force on April 1.
But earlier this week Scottish Health Secretary Neil Gray announced Holyrood would now amend the date. It has been postponed by two months to June 1 to fall in line with the rest of the UK.
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