The latest findings from the 2025 ASH Smokefree GB Youth Survey on vaping among 11–17-year-olds in Great Britain present a worrying picture about vaping in schools. Key findings include:
· 20% of 11–17-year-olds have tried vaping, an estimated 1.1 million.
· 7% currently vape, an estimated 400k, with 40% vaping daily, an estimated 160k.
The frequency of vaping use increases with age:
· 16–17-year-olds: 12% currently vape.
· 18-year-olds: 15% currently vape
A 2023 NASUWT survey reveals that 85% of teachers consider vaping a significant issue on their premises. Students' vaping habits have surged in the last year, according to 52% of teachers. The situation has become so severe that 54% of students skip lessons to vape. Nicotine's effects have left 35% of students unable to focus during class, according to teachers.
Schools need support to combat this growing challenge. This piece offers detailed anti-vaping resources, strategies, and methods to create a mindset that helps students avoid vaping. Your school can make real progress against the vaping crisis with curriculum-based preventative education and support for children known to be vaping.
Understanding vaping and its risks
Health risks for young people
Users inhale an aerosol loaded with harmful substances. The mix includes nicotine, heavy metals like nickel and lead, and, if overheated, formaldehyde – a known cancer-causing chemical.
Overall, 20 chemicals have been found in vape juice – this increases to 60 when heated and inhaled.
Reported in Sky and BBC News in September and confirmed by a study led by a Professor of Biochemistry at Bath University in 2024, in some regions, over a quarter of all the vapes and liquids tested from schools contained the synthetic illicit substance spice. They also found examples of ketamine and MDMA laced vapes.
Children are particularly vulnerable because they often seek to obtain vapes and vape juice from illicit sources, including unscrupulous retailers and even drug dealers, and illegal social media accounts, particularly TikTok.
This is a very significant health concern that extends beyond nicotine.Addiction and brain development concerns
The brain keeps developing until about age 25, and this makes it extra vulnerable to nicotine's effects. Exposure to nicotine during these crucial years can damage brain development and affect attention, learning, mood, and impulse control.
Young users can become addicted quickly, given the highly addictive nature of nicotine, which is the third most addictive drug known, behind heroin and cocaine.
Although unproven in the UK, in other countries, such as the US and Australia, teens who vape have been shown in some studies to be 3x more likely to take up smoking, the so-called ‘gateway effect.’
Vaping and mental health
Teachers notice that over a third of students can't focus in class because of nicotine's effects. Those who vape daily would almost certainly meet the criteria for addiction. Research shows vaping leads to higher rates of anxiety, depression, and mood swings among adolescents
Withdrawal from nicotine brings irritability, anxiety, trouble focusing, and strong cravings that can impact educational performance.
There is also some, albeit weaker, evidence that being addicted to nicotine may increase their chances of becoming addicted to illicit substances later in life.
Problems with vaping in schools
Vaping has created major challenges for UK schools, with an article published on the NASUWT website in March 2025 titled ‘Vaping crisis evident in schools.’
Disruption to learning and behaviour
Teachers now face vaping-related challenges in classrooms every day. A survey of more than 5000 teachers from across the UK responded to a survey, which has produced data suggesting that:
- Students regularly leave lessons to vape, with just over half of educators reporting this behaviour.
- Concerningly, 81% of students gather in toilets to vape during school hours.
- This leads to constant class disruptions, and 17% of teachers have caught students vaping in class.
- School administrators report more vaping-related exclusions than ever before.
This suggest a significant, widespread problem that is faced across UK schools every day.
The role of schools in prevention
Designing Effective Vaping Resources for Schools
Schools need thoughtful planning and evidence-based approaches to create anti-vaping materials that work. Students need resources that both inform and get them involved to make a real difference.
Printable and digital formats
Multiple format options help resources reach students through different channels:
- Posters for school toilets, classrooms, and noticeboards
- Electronic leaflets that parents and carers share in newsletters
- Animated films for PSHE lessons and assemblies
- Classroom presentations with teacher notes
- Interactive digital courses that get students involved
This mix of formats lets schools send consistent anti-vaping messages throughout the school environment.
Using PSHE to teach about vaping in schools
PSHE education provides an ideal framework to address vaping in schools. Students learn skills and attributes that help them make informed decisions. The learning opportunities in PSHE curriculums mention vaping at Key Stage 2. Broader substance-related learning continues through Key Stages 3-5. Students develop critical thinking skills about mixed media messages regarding vaping through this curriculum approach.
Teacher training and support
Teachers need proper support to teach vaping education with confidence. Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), the leading NGO in the UK on the matter, offers complete guidance to designated safeguarding leads and PSHE coordinators who develop school policies. The core team builds confidence in their knowledge of vaping, its risks, and relevant laws with these resources.
Engaging parents and carers
Parent involvement makes school prevention programs more effective. Schools can connect with parents through educational materials in multiple languages, parent guides, and involvement in discussions at PTA meetings. While some young people would prefer their parents to stay uninvolved, schools find that teaching parents about vaping risks helps prevent usage. Through collaboration with parents, schools can create consistent anti-vaping messages.
Behaviour policies
Ensure you have a school behaviour policy that mentions vaping as a named, unacceptable behaviour. Explain the consequences of vaping at school in the policy, but avoid automatic suspension as the only punishment. Reserve exclusion for serious or repeated breaches or where vaping is linked with poor conduct.
The role of schools in supporting cases of vaping
Recognising the Signs
Common signs include frequent bathroom breaks, sweet or fruity smells, frequent coughing, changes in mood or concentration, and frequent truancy.
Having the Conversation
Approach the conversation calmly and with compassion. The goal is to listen and understand what vaping gives them, and not adopt a punitive approach. A supportive, open approach builds trust and makes it easier for them to talk honestly.
It’s an opportunity to help them make informed choices and to support them in quitting.
- Start by educating them on how easy it is to become dependent on nicotine through vaping. Normalise it by saying this is the case not just for children, but adults too.
- Many young people aren’t aware of the addictive nature of vaping, especially when it’s marketed as a safer alternative to smoking.
- Ensure you make it clear that they can always approach you, and you can always revisit the subject at a later stage if they display signs of unwillingness to engage.
- Engaging with pastoral support, or a school counsellor, will encourage the relationship and support network they need.
Signposting to help
There are several resources available to children to provide well-being support during the withdrawal phase, and they can also address any underlying psychological or social root causes as to why they are vaping in the first place.
These include MIND, Kooth, and other services available regionally, depending on your location in the UK, so research into what is available so you are knowledgeable on where they can be signposted to and demonstrate support is available.
Conclusion
Vaping in UK schools is a youth epidemic facing unprecedented challenges. Schools can tackle this growing concern through detailed anti-vaping programs. The most successful approaches combine evidence-based resources, curriculum integration, and parental involvement.
Combined involvement of students, teachers, and parents alike would produce the most effective results and protect our youth from the harm that is vaping.
