Teenagers as young as 12 prescribed nicotine gum on NHS

6 comments

1. ***From The Telegraph:***

   Teenagers as young as 12 are being prescribed nicotine gum amid soaring numbers of children using [e-cigarettes](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/e-cigarettes/).

   Doctors are issuing hundreds of prescriptions for nicotine patches and gum to addict teenagers, many of whom are still too young to legally smoke.

   The disclosure comes at a time when the number of children [smoking cigarettes](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/wellbeing/mental-health/smoking-vaping-side-effects-heart-lung-health/) has declined but the numbers using vapes, which can contain nicotine, has soared in recent years.

   Last year, almost 1,300 prescriptions were issued to teenagers who had gone to their doctor for help to beat their [nicotine cravings](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/04/18/give-child-vapers-nicotine-patches-to-break-addiction/).

   The statistics show that last year children as young as 12 were given help to wean them off.

   Lee Fernandes, lead therapist at addiction specialist the UKAT Group, said: “Children as young as 12 being addicted to nicotine is of real concern as it can lead to developmental abnormalities, stunting their ability to learn and play.

   “Early use of nicotine has also been linked to behavioural disorders and an increased chance of substance misuse in adulthood.

   “Ultimately, what these figures tell us is that there is not enough education in schools about the dangers of smoking, and we’d urge the Government to do something about this.”

   **Read more here:** [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/01/04/teenagers-prescribed-nicotine-gum-nhs-vaping-ecigarettes/](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/01/04/teenagers-prescribed-nicotine-gum-nhs-vaping-ecigarettes/)

2. “teenagers as young as twelve”

3. The headline should be ‘children as young as 12 need support to quit nicotine due to rise in vape use’, but the telegraph is incapable of writing a headline that doesn’t have some sort of rage bait element. Bloody woke NHS giving nicotine to the children!!!

   On a separate note, I resent actual media organisations posting their own articles on this sub. It’s literal advertising and isn’t clearly marked as such.

4. One fine day in the middle of he night,

   Two 12-year-old teenagers got up to fight 

5. Who would have thought sweet smelling and tasting vapes containing nicotine would lead to children getting addicted?

6. The quality of doctors has been constantly dropping for decades

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