It’s no longer uncommon to spot South African schoolchildren, some still in their uniforms, puffing on vapes.

Once marketed as a smoking cessation aid for adults, e-cigarettes have become alarmingly popular among teenagers, sparking concerns about nicotine addiction and long-term health effects.

A recent study has shed light on the extent of vaping among high school learners and the factors driving this growing trend.

Research officers Sam Filby from the Research Unit on the Economics of Excisable Products and Richard van Zyl Smit, an Associate Professor and Consultant Pulmonologist—both from the University of Cape Town—compiled a report on South African students’ vaping habits published on The Conversation.

The survey included 25,000 high school students across 52 schools in eight of South Africa’s nine provinces.

The survey found that approximately 16.8% of schoolchildren use e-cigarettes, and vaping was not limited to high-income households.

The researchers focused on schools in major cities such as Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Durban, categorising them into three fee brackets:

Lower-fee schools: Annual fees between R20,000 and R40,000 (17% of the survey)
Medium-fee schools: Annual fees between R40,000 and R90,000 (64% of the survey)
High-fee schools: Annual fees over R90,000 (19% of the survey)

Around 31% of learners attended co-ed schools, 41% attended all-boys’ schools, and 29% attended all-girls’ schools.

Alarming trends in teen vaping

Students were asked about their use of four substances in the 30 days preceding the survey: e-cigarettes, tobacco cigarettes, cannabis, and hookah pipes.

Those who vaped were questioned further about their history, habits, and reasons for vaping.

The study found that 16.8% of high school learners were using e-cigarettes—significantly higher than the 2% who smoked tobacco and the 5% who used cannabis.

Vaping prevalence increased with age

Grade 8: 9% reported using vapes
Grade 12: 29.5% reported vaping, with some schools recording usage rates as high as 46%
Among those who vaped:
38% vaped daily
More than 50% vaped four or more days per week
88% used nicotine-containing vapes
47% vaped within the first hour of waking up—a sign of nicotine addiction

The researchers estimate that up to 61% of teen vapers could be seriously addicted to nicotine.

Why are teens vaping?

When asked why they started, over half of the students cited social influences, such as peer pressure or wanting to fit in. Additionally:

20% vaped to cope with stress and anxiety
16.2% started out of curiosity
As for why they continue vaping:
28.4% said it helped them manage anxiety, depression, or stress
14.9% admitted they were addicted

One 17-year-old female student admitted, “It’s an addiction—no matter what I try, I can’t stop.” Others described vaping as a habit they couldn’t go without, even if they didn’t recognise it as addiction.

Notably, 46% of students did not cite addiction as their reason for continued use, despite exhibiting highly addictive behaviours.

Vaping is a growing concern for South African schools

The study highlights the urgent need for intervention as vaping becomes more entrenched in school environments.

With a high percentage of teens showing signs of nicotine dependence, experts warn that vaping could have serious long-term consequences for adolescent health.

Schools, parents, and policymakers now face the challenge of addressing this growing epidemic before it becomes an even bigger public health crisis.

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