Photo: 123RF
New research shows vaping is a likely reason for higher-than-expected smoking rates among Māori and Pasifika teens.
The study, by the universities of Otago, Auckland, and Sydney, analysed almost 600,000 Year 10 students aged 14-15 between 2003 and 2024, and compared smoking trends from before and after vaping became common.
Otago University Associate professor Andrew Waa told Midday Report while smoking numbers have reduced, there is concern about the impact the introduction of vaping products has had.
"Some people have commented that the introduction of vaping has been a good thing because it means people aren't smoking and that's better for health. And so we thought, OK, well, we'll have a look at this.
"We did a study and we looked at the trends up to 2010 and then what the expected trend would have been from that point to today, and then compared it to the actual trend after vaping products were introduced."
Associate Professor Andrew Waa, Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington. Photo: Supplied
The research found after the introduction of vaping products, smoking rates didn't decline as much as expected, particularly for Māori.
"The rates were every 1000 Māori students, there are about 20 extra people smoking now than you would expect. It does suggest that there's some sort of interaction going on, like vaping might be a pathway to smoking."
Waa said the research highlighted the inequities faced by Māori and Pacific youth, where the smoking and vaping rates were higher.
"The inequities isn't so much of a surprise in terms of higher vaping rates and having higher impacts on Māori and Pacific students, it's more of a disappointment because we know this happens and we know the way to address this is through really good, strong government policy."
Waa said the research contradicts the government which has said vaping is helping people to stop smoking.
"Vaping is just addicting them to another product, and most of these young people have never smoked anyway, so all we are doing is leading them into using new products.
"Most people who vape today have never smoked."
Waa also said the rates of addiction to nicotine are comparable to the mid 2000s.
"In 2005, the daily smoking rates were comparable to the daily vaping rates now.
"Vapes are different to cigarettes, but nicotine is still just as addictive, if not more addictive in these new vaping products."
Waa said the research has shown current policy isn't working when it comes to harm reduction for young people.
"We've made big inroads in reducing smoking rates, but at the same time we've allowed these [vaping] products to become available.
"We've got to change this idea that vaping products are a recreational lifestyle product. They are not, once you are addicted there's no choice to it."
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