The Hidden Crisis: Vaping Among South African Teenagers

In a time where technology and trends shape the lives of our youth, I see a silent crisis emerging in South Africa: the growing use of e-cigarettes, or vaping, among teenagers. As a psychiatrist working closely with young people, I’ve had increasing concerns about this issue. In a recent interview with Pretoria FM, I felt compelled to speak out. As vaping becomes more popular in schools and social spaces, the dangers of vaping for teenagers can no longer be ignored.

Key Takeaways from the Broader Discussion

Vaping Is on the Rise Among South African Teens

Vaping, a practice similar to smoking, is becoming increasingly common among South African teenagers. Its rise in popularity is attributed to social media influence, peer pressure, and the deceptive marketing of these products as a safe alternative to traditional cigarettes.

What Is Vaping, Really?

Vaping involves inhaling vaporized nicotine and other chemicals without burning tobacco. This method of delivery is often marketed with sleek designs and fruity flavors to make it more attractive to younger users. Unfortunately, this perception of safety is misleading and extremely dangerous.

Health Impacts: More Than Just a Trend

Nicotine found in most vaping products severely affects the developing adolescent brain. It impairs concentration, impulse control, and memory. Specific areas of the brain, including the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus—responsible for attention and reward processing—are particularly vulnerable. This can lead to long-term cognitive issues, academic struggles, and even changes in behavior.

Addiction and Mental Health Concerns

Addiction is a real and frightening consequence. Many teens who vape become dependent quickly. This dependence often correlates with rising cases of depression and anxiety. Far from providing relief, vaping increases stress responses and can deepen emotional instability over time.

Long-Term Risks and Misconceptions

There’s a dangerous misconception that vaping is less harmful than traditional smoking. While it’s true that it doesn’t involve burning tobacco, some vape products contain even higher levels of nicotine than cigarettes. Additionally, vaping has been linked to poor eating habits and lower overall health standards among young adults.

Hidden Dangers to Others

Vaping doesn’t only pose a risk to users. Secondhand and thirdhand exposure—residual chemicals left on surfaces or in the air—can affect others, particularly children and those with respiratory issues. The impact of these exposures is not yet fully understood, but early studies suggest significant health implications.

What Needs to Happen Now

Awareness and education must be at the forefront. I urge parents, teachers, and community leaders to recognize vaping for what it is—a serious health threat. We need more public campaigns, better regulation of product marketing and sales, and comprehensive school programs to equip youth with accurate information.

More research is also essential. While we already have enough evidence to take action, understanding the full scope of long-term health consequences will help shape better prevention strategies in the future.

The Illusion of Safety: Are Vapes Safe for Students?

Too many South African teenagers believe that vaping is a safe alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes. This is a dangerous misconception. The belief that e-cigarettes are harmless, simply because they don’t contain tar or involve burning tobacco, could not be further from the truth.

Most vapes contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance that leads to long-term dependency. The question isn’t just “Is vaping bad for you?” It’s “How bad is it, and how much damage are we not yet seeing?”

Health Effects of E-Cigarettes on Youth

As a medical professional, I’m deeply concerned about nicotine addiction in adolescents from vaping. Teenagers’ brains are still developing, and introducing nicotine at this stage can cause irreversible damage.

Nicotine disrupts the development of neural pathways that affect concentration, memory, and decision-making. Over time, this can result in poor academic performance, impaired judgment, and personality changes. This isn’t a phase—it can be permanent.

Vaping and Mental Health: Anxiety and Depression in Teens

Many teenagers tell me they vape to relieve stress. But in reality, the link between vaping and anxiety, and vaping and depression in teens, is deeply concerning.

Nicotine doesn’t calm the nervous system; it overstimulates it. It increases heart rate and adrenaline levels, simulating stress rather than reducing it. Over time, this worsens symptoms of anxiety and depression and locks young people in a vicious cycle of dependence.

The Chemistry Behind the Clouds: Harmful Substances in Vapes

Parents often don’t realise how dangerous the chemicals in e-cigarettes really are. Aside from nicotine, many e-liquids contain formaldehyde—a known carcinogen—along with acetaldehyde and acrolein.

Even more troubling is the presence of heavy metals in e-cigarettes, such as lead, nickel, and tin, often released from the vape’s heating coils. These toxic substances can cause organ damage, neurological disorders, and serious lung and respiratory conditions.

What Does Vaping Do to Your Lungs?

We talk a lot about brain development, but I want to emphasize the lungs too. Vaping has been linked to a condition known as EVALI (e-cigarette or vaping-associated lung injury). It can cause inflammation, reduced lung function, chronic coughing, and even serious respiratory diseases.

Just because it doesn’t smell like cigarette smoke doesn’t mean it isn’t damaging your lungs.

Vaping vs. Smoking: A False Comparison

One of the most misleading narratives I hear from teens and even some parents is this: “Vaping is better than smoking.” But that’s not the point. Comparing vaping vs. smoking is like comparing jumping from a 10-storey building to jumping from a 5-storey one. The result is still harm—potentially fatal.

Just because vaping is marketed as safer doesn’t make it safe.

Marketing Manipulation: The Allure of E-Cigarettes

Make no mistake, the rise in teenage vaping is not accidental. Vapes are deliberately designed to be sleek, colourful, and appealing to teenagers. Fruity flavours, stylish packaging, and aggressive social media advertising make them seem cool, harmless—even healthy.

We urgently need stricter regulations to stop this manipulation. Our youth are being groomed into the next generation of nicotine addicts.

Can You Get Addicted to Vaping?

Absolutely. Nicotine is as addictive as heroin or cocaine. I’ve worked with teenagers who can’t get through a school day without taking multiple vape breaks. Some even wake up at night to vape.

This level of dependency is not just harmful to their physical health—it also damages their emotional wellbeing, social relationships, and academic performance.

Long-Term Effects of Vaping on Teens

We still don’t know all the long-term effects of vaping on teens. But what we do know is alarming. From brain and lung damage to potential harm to the heart, liver, and immune system, the risks are mounting.

And here’s what worries me most: we are letting an entire generation experiment with unknown substances under the illusion of safety. We are gambling with their futures.

A Call to Action: What Parents, Schools, and Policymakers Can Do

Prevention starts at home. I urge parents to educate themselves about the dangers of vaping. Start honest, open conversations with your children. Ask questions. Listen without judgment.

Schools must also step in. Vaping education should be included in life orientation and health curriculums. Awareness campaigns should be launched across all age groups.

And policymakers—your role is critical. We need laws that restrict vape advertising, enforce age verification, and regulate product safety. Without your leadership, we are fighting this battle with one hand tied behind our back.

Healthy Stress Management: A Viable Alternative

One of the key reasons teens start vaping is stress. But there are healthier ways to manage it.

I encourage teens and families to focus on:

• Nutritious food: Meals that support mood and mental clarity.

• Sleep hygiene: Prioritising rest helps regulate emotions.

• Exercise: Regular physical activity reduces anxiety and boosts mood.

• Emotional coping tools: Whether it’s journaling, breathing techniques, prayer, or simply speaking to someone you trust, these habits build real resilience.

We can’t eliminate stress. But we can equip our teens with tools to manage it in a healthy, empowering way.

A Stern but Hopeful Message to South Africa

E-cigarette use among teenagers is not just a passing trend. It’s a public health emergency. The dangers of vaping for teenagers are real, far-reaching, and potentially irreversible.

But there is hope. With awareness, regulation, and compassion, we can turn this around. Let’s protect the health and future of our youth—before it’s too late.