Vape-addicted kids 'can't go an hour' without taking a puff at school as teachers tackle 'crisis'

Child vape addicts as young as 13 are 'unable to go an hour' at school without taking a puff, councillors have heard. A meeting of Bolton's full council was told one high school has installed sensors to address the 'crisis', with detectors bleeping 'by the minute'.

The revelations about vape use by children in school settings came during the maiden speech in the council chamber by Horwich and Blackrod First member Samantha Williamson. She said: "In recent times, we have observed a concerning rise in the use of vape products among youngsters, leading to an increase in disruptive and anti-social behaviour within our schools.

"I'm particularly troubled that to learn that schools have resorted to installing sensors to detect vaping incidents within their premises. There are 13-year-old addicts unable to go one hour without a vape and vape sensors going off not just hourly but by the minute.

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"This is increasingly alarming for schools and our educators who are not equipped to deal with 13-year-old addicts. As a responsible and caring community, we need to ensure the safety and well-being of our youth, and it is essential to address this issue effectively.

"I would appreciate information on the strategies and measures being implemented to combat the rise of vaping and its associated negative impacts on our young population." Intended as a safer alternative to smoking, vaping has increased among young people.

In June, the House of Commons health and social care select committee heard evidence on the rising number of under-18s using e-cigarettes illegally. Representatives of the UK vaping industry appeared before MPS.

The session