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** 20 August 2025
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UK


** Researchers warn over youth vaping as experts call for tougher controls (#2)
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** Somerset man urges others to quit after losing leg to smoking (#1)
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International


** Turkmenistan targets a tobacco-free society by end of 2025 (#3)
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UK


** Researchers warn over youth vaping as experts call for tougher controls

A large review of international studies, published in Tobacco Control, concluded that young people who use e-cigarettes are more likely to smoke tobacco. The review also linked vaping among adolescents with asthma, respiratory issues, dental problems, injuries, and associations with substance misuse and poor mental health.

The researchers cautioned that the evidence, largely observational and of mixed quality, cannot prove causation, and called for further studies to understand whether vaping causes smoking.

Dr Ronny Cheung, of the Royal College of Paediatrics, raised concerns about the findings and the impact on children’s health and urged the government to implement the tobacco and vapes bill without delay.

Hazel Cheeseman, Chief Executive of ASH reinforced the case for firm regulation from the Government, highlighting the need for restrictions on marketing to protect children.

The Department of Health and Social Care said that while vapes can help smokers quit, they should never be used by children or non-smokers. It stressed that rising youth vaping is a concern and pointed to forthcoming measures, including the tobacco and vapes bill and a ban on the recent ban on disposable vapes, aimed at preventing addiction in future generations.

Source: The Guardian, 19 August 2025

See also: Tobacco Control - Vaping and harm in young people: umbrella review ([link removed]) | Science Media Centre - Expert reaction to umbrella review looking at youth vaping and its links to smoking, marijuana use, alcohol use, and other health outcomes ([link removed])
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** Somerset man urges others to quit after losing leg to smoking

A man from Wells, Somerset, who smoked heavily for five decades, has spoken out after losing his leg due to blocked arteries. Since giving up cigarettes five months ago, he said he has seen major improvements in both health and finances, warning others that smoking is never worth the cost.

Local public health specialists noted that many smokers in Somerset spend thousands annually on tobacco, with some resorting to food banks. They added that those who manage to quit often redirect savings towards more positive uses, such as family holidays.

According to Somerset Council, increased government investment in stop-smoking services has contributed to the region achieving the highest quit rate in the South West. Weekly support sessions, which the man attends, are highlighted as playing a key role in helping people succeed in giving up.

Source: BBC News, 19 August 2025
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International


** Turkmenistan targets a tobacco-free society by end of 2025

Turkmenistan, one of the world's most secluded nations, has set its sights on eliminating tobacco use entirely by the close of 2025 - a goal rooted in the leadership of the country’s president, a former dentist, who launched the campaign in 2022. According to the WHO, just 4% of Turkmens smoke, a figure shaped by strict government measures including high taxes, import limits, fines, and widespread public smoking bans. Officials acknowledge that with mere months remaining in the year, they have yet to claim victory in fully eradicating the habit

Source: Daily Mail, 20 August 2025
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ASH Daily News is a digest of published news on smoking-related topics. ASH is not responsible for the content of external websites. ASH does not necessarily endorse the material contained in this bulletin.

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