Derry City and Strabane District Council has unanimously passed a motion proposed by Sinn Féin Councillor Aisling Hutton, calling on the Department of Health and relevant ministers to support comprehensive regulation to prevent nicotine addiction among young people.

The motion was prompted by recent statistics from the Public Health Agency and Health Intelligence, which Councillor Hutton described as 'deeply concerning'. The data indicates that 98% of young people surveyed have seen or heard of vapes, with 15% identified as current users.

Vaping prevalence increases significantly with age, rising from 4% among Year 8 pupils to 46% among Year 14 pupils. Additionally, 76% of young vapers had never smoked tobacco before trying vapes, and 33% of those subsequently experimented with cigarettes.

Other findings include 51% of young people reporting an immediate family member who has smoked, and around 40% of young vapers experiencing negative side effects such as breathlessness, headaches, anxiety, and increased heart rate.

The council's motion requests enhanced enforcement of age-of-sale legislation, particularly targeting retailers supplying vapes to minors. It also asks council officers to explore awareness campaigns for parents and guardians to address the home environment's influence on behaviours.