In recent years, Pakistan has witnessed a concerning rise in flavoured vape use among youth and children. Public health experts warn that this alarming trend can spiral into a major crisis. These devices come in tempting flavours like mango, berry, bubblegum etc. and are sold in colourful packaging that often appeals to teens. What began as a perceived “cool” alternative to smoking is now raising alarm among public health experts.

There are several factors driving this trend. Flavours of vapes mask the bitter taste of nicotine and make vaping attractive to beginners. Vaping is widely promoted online via Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, where influencers and vape shops market directly to young audiences. These platforms use trendy videos and promotional content to normalize vaping, often ignoring its health consequences. This results in a sharp rise in nicotine use among youth.

According to a recent study conducted by the PNR Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences among college and university students in Karachi, nearly 50 percent of students aged 16–19 had tried vaping. In Pakistan’s schools and colleges, teachers are noticing early signs of nicotine addiction. These include students showing mood swings, irritability, and trouble in concentrating.

School counsellors are also raising concerns about a growing number of cases where students admit to using vapes regularly, pointing toward deepening dependency.

Vapes are being marketed as safer than cigarettes, but they still contain nicotine and other harmful chemicals. These include formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, heavy metals and diacetyl which have been linked to lung damage, including popcorn lungs, heart........

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