RESEARCH ALERT
Some vapes use added chemicals to create a cold or icy feeling. New research has raised concerns about three of them: WS-23, WS-3 and WS-5. We do not yet know how common they are in Wales.
Information / Teen vaping
Teen vaping in Wales: facts for parents & professionals
Most young people in Wales do not vape, but regular vaping is still a real issue for some teenagers. The latest 2025 Wales data shows weekly vaping has fallen, yet use remains higher among older secondary-school learners.
This guide brings the key facts together with practical routes for parents, carers, schools and youth professionals.
Last reviewed: 5th October 2026
WALES SNAPSHOT
5.2% of Years 7 to 11 reported vaping at least weekly in 2025.
That is down from 7% in 2023 and represents around 3,200 fewer young people vaping regularly. In Year 11, 12.8% reported weekly vaping, down from 15.9% in 2023.
Start with the situation in front of you
I found a vape
You do not need to identify everything immediately. Start with what the product is, how often it is being used and where it came from.
They want help to stop
Nicotine withdrawal can bring cravings, irritability, low mood, sleep problems and difficulty concentrating. Support is available in Wales.
It happened at school
Start with what happened, whether use is experimental or regular, and what support the young person needs next.
I work with young people
Use prevention resources that cover pressure, marketing, nicotine products and decision-making without relying on scare tactics.
What the latest Wales data shows
Public Health Wales published new Schools Health Research Network data on 22nd September 2026. More than 130,000 learners in Years 7 to 11 took part in the 2025 survey.
Weekly vaping: 5.2% in 2025, down from 7% in 2023.
Year 11: 12.8% reported vaping at least weekly, down from 15.9% in 2023.
Girls: 6.6% reported weekly vaping, compared with 3.7% of boys.
Weekly smoking: 1.8% in 2025, down from 2.7% in 2023.
The headline matters, but so does the pattern
The fall is encouraging, but vaping still becomes more common as learners move through secondary school. Public Health Wales says it is too early to say how much of the decline was caused by the single-use vape ban or other recent changes.
What young people need to know
Vaping is not for children or young people. Most vapes contain nicotine, which can lead to dependence.
Less harmful than smoking does not mean harmless. Vaping exposes users to some toxins, and long-term effects are still being studied.
Nicotine dependence can affect everyday life. Cravings and withdrawal can affect mood, concentration and sleep.
Not every young person who has tried a vape is dependent. One-off experimenting, social use and regular nicotine dependence need different responses.
Signs that nicotine may be becoming a problem
Look at the pattern rather than trying to catch someone out. Signs can include vaping very soon after waking, strong urges to vape, difficulty going through lessons or activities without it, irritability when unable to vape, repeated attempts to stop, or spending increasing time and money on vaping.
These signs do not diagnose addiction on their own, but they can help start a useful conversation.
How to respond without turning it into a battle
Start with curiosity. The aim is to work out what is happening, not to win the first conversation.
Ask what is driving it
Peer pressure, stress, curiosity, social media, flavours, boredom and wanting to fit in can all play a part. Ask what they get from vaping and what they dislike about it.
Separate behaviour from support
Schools and families may need boundaries around vaping, but a young person who is nicotine-dependent may need help with cravings at the same time.
Make quitting practical
If they want to stop, agree a quit date or plan, identify triggers, remove spare devices and build support around the times cravings are strongest. Help Me Quit has support routes for young people who vape.
Rules, illegal sales & where products come from
It is already illegal to sell nicotine vapes to anyone under 18 or for an adult to buy them on behalf of someone under 18. From 29th October 2026, the age-of-sale rule in Wales expands to all vaping and nicotine products, including non-nicotine vapes and other nicotine products.
If you are concerned about underage sales, illegal products or a seller, you can report what you know anonymously. You do not need proof and you should not confront the seller.