Vaping Hinders Youth Smoking Decline in New Zealand, Study Finds

Recent research indicates that the rise of vaping has slowed the decline of smoking rates among adolescents in Aotearoa New Zealand. While adult smoking rates have decreased significantly, from 18% in the 2011/12 period to 8% in 2023/24, inequities remain, particularly affecting Māori and Pacific communities, who experience higher rates of tobacco-related illnesses.

Tobacco addiction often begins in adolescence, making it crucial to address youth smoking rates to reduce health disparities. A previous study suggested that vaping may have displaced smoking among youths, potentially accelerating the decline in smoking rates. However, the latest findings challenge this assumption, showing that smoking rates among young people actually declined at a slower pace following the introduction of vaping in 2010.

Study Overview and Findings

The new study, published in the Lancet Regional Health-Western Pacific, examines the impact of vaping on smoking trends across different ethnic groups. Researchers analyzed data from nearly 600,000 students aged 14 to 15, including 20% who identified as Māori, 9% as Pacific, 58% as European, and 13% as Asian.

Smoking rates among these adolescents had been declining rapidly before vaping became prevalent. The study compared trends from 2003 to 2009 (prior to widespread vaping) with those from 2010 to 2024. The results revealed a significant slowdown in the decline of regular smoking rates for Māori, Pacific, and European adolescents after 2010. In contrast, the decline remained consistent for Asian adolescents.

By 2024, regular smoking rates were approximately 6.2% for Māori, 3.3% for Pacific, and 2% for European adolescents. If pre-vaping trends had continued, those figures would have been significantly lower: 4.2% for Māori, 1.8% for Pacific, and 0.7% for European adolescents. This indicates that there were approximately 20 more Māori, 15 more Pacific, and 13 more European students smoking regularly in 2024 than would have been expected had the trends not changed with the introduction of vaping.

Implications for Adolescent Health

The findings suggest that vaping has not displaced smoking among Māori, Pacific, European, or Asian adolescents. Instead, it has contributed to a significant slowdown in reducing regular smoking among Māori, Pacific, and European youths. For Māori and Pacific communities, the implications are particularly concerning, as these groups already face higher rates of both smoking and vaping.

Rather than mitigating health risks, vaping has become an additional source of nicotine dependence, posing its own health challenges. The study highlights the need for targeted interventions, especially for communities most affected. This includes a call for the government to prioritize Māori and Pacific perspectives in tobacco control strategies, as well as to support equity, social justice, and Indigenous rights.

Addressing nicotine dependence among young people is essential not only for individual health but also for fostering self-determination within communities. The ongoing impact of vaping serves as a reminder of historical injustices and the need for comprehensive public health policies that uphold the rights and well-being of all communities in Aotearoa New Zealand.