Disposable vapes blamed as teenage nicotine use rises sharply in Spain

Spanish doctors have warned that vaping is becoming increasingly common among teenagers aged between 14 and 18, with health professionals arguing that smoking habits are “changing form but not risk”. The warning comes amid growing concern that electronic cigarettes are reversing years of progress made through anti-smoking legislation. Recent data cited by the Spanish Society of Family and Community Medicine, known as semFYC, shows that the use of electronic cigarettes among adolescents has risen sharply in recent years.

Earlier surveys by the organisation found that more teenagers were using vapes than conventional cigarettes, with doctors describing e-cigarettes and shisha devices as a gateway to nicotine addiction. Data released this month showed that 26.3 per cent of young people aged 14 to 18 had used e-cigarettes in the previous 30 days. The figure has more than tripled compared with earlier surveys conducted in 2021. Nearly half of teenagers in the same age group have now tried vaping at least once, according to the figures cited by health professionals.

Flavoured disposable devices linked to rise in youth vaping

Medical organisations say the popularity of flavoured disposable devices and the widespread belief that vaping is harmless have contributed to the rise. semFYC has warned that many adolescents begin using nicotine through vapes rather than tobacco cigarettes, partly because the products are marketed in ways that appeal to younger users. Doctors and anti-smoking campaigners argue that vaping presents significant health risks, particularly for young people whose lungs and brains are still developing.

Specialists have also expressed concern over the long-term effects of inhaling heated chemicals contained in e-liquids and disposable vaping devices. Health experts have increasingly raised concerns over the influence of social media trends and online promotion. Disposable vapes are frequently advertised through brightly coloured branding, fruit flavours and influencer marketing, making them more appealing to teenagers and younger consumers.

Doctors warn of respiratory illnesses linked to e-cigarettes

Dr Carlos Jiménez, a founder of the Smoking Section of the Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery, said there is a widespread misconception that vaping devices are safer than tobacco. He warned that young people who use electronic cigarettes are significantly more likely to begin smoking conventional cigarettes later. Health professionals in Spain have also reported cases of respiratory illnesses linked to vaping, including EVALI, a severe lung injury associated with electronic cigarette use.

Doctors say some adolescents are developing respiratory symptoms despite having no previous history of smoking tobacco products. Sonia Cebrián, a pharmacist and member of the National Committee for Smoking Prevention, said some young patients were already experiencing irreversible respiratory problems linked to vaping. She also warned that many teenagers underestimate the nicotine content contained in disposable devices, increasing the risk of dependency at an early age.

Concerns grow over easy access for teenagers

Doctors say accessibility is another major issue, with teenagers often able to buy disposable vapes in shops without being asked for identification despite sales to minors being prohibited. Health experts have highlighted concerns that brightly coloured packaging and sweet flavours such as watermelon, mango and lemon make the products particularly attractive to children and teenagers. Medical organisations have also criticised the lack of awareness surrounding nicotine addiction among younger users.

Some experts argue that adolescents who would never have smoked traditional cigarettes are now regularly using nicotine products through vaping instead. The increase in youth vaping has intensified calls for tighter regulation across Spain. The government is currently reviewing reforms to the country’s anti-smoking laws, including proposals to treat vaping products in the same way as traditional tobacco.

Pressure grows for stricter anti-vaping legislation

Campaigners are pushing for stricter restrictions on advertising, plain packaging rules and wider smoke-free zones that would also apply to electronic cigarettes. Some experts have also called for higher taxes on nicotine products to make them less affordable for younger people.

Several regional authorities have already moved to impose tougher rules. Earlier this year, Galicia announced new legislation banning the sale of vapes and energy drinks to under-18s, alongside expanded smoke-free areas around schools and healthcare buildings.

Officials cited figures showing that 41 per cent of teenagers in the region had tried vaping, compared with 29 per cent who had tried cigarettes. Spanish health experts argue that while traditional smoking rates among adults have fallen over the past two decades, nicotine addiction among younger generations remains a serious public health challenge.