Chronic health issues in young vapers alarmingly increasing

A national hotline for doctors to track health complaints in minors related to vaping has received 24 reports so far this year, almost as many as 2024 and 2025 combined, according to RTL.

The health issues include lung problems, heart palpitations, depression and nausea, with more than one in five patients having chronic complaints. The youngest was just 13 years old.

Not only are the number of reports increasing, but so are the consequences of vaping. “The numbers don’t lie,” Marije van den Beukel, co-initiator of the reporting centre and pediatric pulmonologist, told RTL.

“Five people ended up in the ICU. In addition, five of the 24 patients have chronic complaints, and mental health issues such as depression or school problems among young people are being mentioned for the first time.”

These reports to the hotline, an initiative of the Dutch Association for Pediatrics (NVK) and the RIVM, are just the tip of the iceberg, said Van den Beukel, who predicts their numbers will significantly increase. “As a doctor, I naturally hope not, but I do expect it. More and more doctors are reporting to us, but certainly not all of them yet.”

She also points out the difficulty for doctors in linking the complaints to vaping. “You now also see in practice that it takes a long time before a connection is made with vaping. First, other causes are ruled out, and certainly with young children, you don’t really take them into account.”

Student vaper

One 21-year-old college student who has been vaping for the past few years told DutchNews that the reports of health risks are worrying, but she has no plans to quit. “I like the flavours,” she said. “And it’s a habit now.”

Despite the nationwide ban on selling flavoured vapes, the student, like her peers, is still able to purchase them easily in Amsterdam or online.

Van den Beukel said vapes should be completely banned. “It serves no purpose, so stop doing it and put an end to it. Another solution could be to only allow vaping for people over the age of 18, so that at least children can no longer vape.”