Young people's experiences of vaping in West Northamptonshire
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In the Autumn of 2023 Young Healthwatch Northamptonshire was commissioned by Public Health West Northamptonshire to gather the views of young people in West Northamptonshire who use vapes or similar nicotine products. They undertook focus groups and interviews, speaking to 11 young people. Of these, eight had used vapes regularly and three had tried vaping.
Some young people said that they were able to buy vapes from shops themselves. They reported that this was easy and that often shops did not ask for proof of age. Others asked family and friends to buy them.
Most vaped at school, but not openly. Some vaped in public, at home or at friends' houses.
Young people vaped for a variety of reasons:
- A sense of community and belonging
- Being influenced by peers and not knowing they could get addicted
- As a coping mechanism
Some didn't want support. Others wanted to know which vapes were safe and to make it harder to get them.
Some young people wanted to understand and have the adults they come in to contact with understand that it is an addiction. Others wanted group sessions not delivered by a teacher, but others wanted one to one support.