Youth protection More and more young people in Bern and Fribourg are smoking e-cigarettes

In the canton of Bern and the German-speaking part of the canton of Fribourg, e-cigarette use among young people is steadily increasing. This is the result of a recent survey of 12 to 17-year-old schoolchildren published by the Blue Cross.

4.5 percent of the young people surveyed smoke e-cigarettes, or vapes, at least once a week, according to a press release issued by the Berne-Solothurn-Freiburg Blue Cross on Wednesday.

This figure was less than two percent until 2021, but has been rising sharply since 2022. The Blue Cross attributes this development to new vape products, marketing measures and the widespread and affordable availability of e-cigarettes.

The consumption of snus, snuff and cigarettes is on the decline. In 2021 and 2022, 4.5 percent of young people smoked at least once a week, compared to 1.5 percent this year. According to the Blue Cross, this phenomenon is probably related to the increase in vape consumption.

The proportion of young people who drink alcohol at least once a week is also declining, according to the report. Between 2019 and 2022, this figure rose from 1.7% to 7.5%, but has been falling again since 2023.

This year, the Blue Cross surveyed 823 young people about their substance use and their motives.

SDA