A fresh study on vaping among South African learners is sounding the alarm on a habit that teachers, health experts and parents say is spreading fast through high schools. The research, led by Professor Richard Van Zyl-Smit of the University of Cape Town, suggests that e-cigarettes have become the most commonly used inhaled substance among teenagers, with troubling links to cannabis and tobacco use.
The findings paint a worrying picture of school life in South Africa, where vaping is no longer seen as a fringe trend. Instead, it is increasingly showing up in classrooms, toilets, corridors and school grounds, often hidden in plain sight. According to the study, which drew on responses from 25,000 students, the use of vaping products is now a mainstream issue that schools can no longer ignore.
Van Zyl-Smit says the rise in teenage vaping is being driven by a mix of weak regulation, aggressive marketing and the heavy influence of social media. In other words, young people are being exposed to slick branding and online trends that make vaping appear harmless, fashionable and even normal.
But the data suggests otherwise. The research, published in the South African Medical Journal, surveyed learners at 52 schools across eight provinces. It found that 16.8% of school pupils currently use vaping products, while 36.7% said they had tried e-cigarettes at least once. Those numbers point to a habit that is not only widespread, but also steadily becoming part of teenage life in South Africa.
For educators on the ground, the issue is already affecting the school day. Teachers say learners are leaving class to vape, sneaking devices onto school property and, in some cases, using them in full view of others. The result, they warn, is more than just a disciplinary headache. It is a direct challenge to classroom control, learner concentration and long-term academic performance.
The health concerns are just as serious. Vaping products often contain high levels of nicotine, a substance that can quickly lead to dependence, especially in young users whose brains are still developing. There is also growing concern about the way vaping can become a gateway to other substance use, particularly when it overlaps with cigarettes and cannabis.
Vaping among South African learners is now a school crisis
Speaking to the issue, Thabo Manne, president of the National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of South Africa (NAPTOSA), said many teachers are not equipped to deal with the scale of the problem. He said the habit is disrupting lessons and pulling learners away from their studies, with some pupils bunking class just to satisfy cravings.
Manne warned that the situation is getting worse because learners are now bringing vapes to school openly and using them during the day. He said teachers are repeatedly having to deal with pupils asking to leave class, lingering in passages or gathering behind buildings to vape.
According to Manne, the damage goes beyond behaviour. He believes the habit is starting to erode respect for school rules and routine, while also exposing younger learners to harmful substances at a formative age. His view reflects a broader frustration among educators who say the country’s schools are not properly resourced to handle this new challenge.
He also pointed to what many schools are seeing first-hand: learners smoking or vaping during lunch breaks, between lessons and sometimes even inside classrooms. That, he said, is placing pressure on teachers who already have to manage overcrowded timetables, discipline issues and limited support services.
Our understanding is that the problem has become so visible that it is now part of the wider policy conversation around tobacco and electronic delivery systems in South Africa. Health experts have raised similar concerns during public hearings on the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill 2022, warning that the growth in vaping among learners could have long-term consequences if not addressed urgently.
The bill has become increasingly important as policymakers try to catch up with changing nicotine habits. While traditional smoking remains a public health concern, vaping is now challenging assumptions about what substance use looks like in schools. In many cases, it is easier to conceal, easier to normalise and, according to experts, easier for teenagers to dismiss as harmless.
That perception is part of the danger. Many learners see vapes as less risky than cigarettes because they produce less smell and are often sold in brightly packaged, flavour-driven products. But health professionals caution that the absence of smoke does not mean the absence of harm. Nicotine addiction, lung irritation and long-term behavioural effects remain serious concerns.
For South Africa, the issue is also shaped by the realities of our school system. Many public schools already struggle with discipline, staffing and learner support, leaving principals and teachers with limited tools to respond consistently. In that environment, a fast-growing trend like vaping can spread quickly before schools have a chance to develop a clear response.
Parents, too, are being called into the conversation. The research and educator feedback suggest that many adults may still underestimate how common vaping has become among teenagers. In some homes, devices may be mistaken for harmless gadgets or simply overlooked because they are small, portable and easy to hide.
What makes the latest study on vaping among South African learners especially significant is not just the scale of use, but the age group involved. These are high school learners, many of whom are still shaping their attitudes to health, self-control and risk. Once nicotine addiction takes hold, breaking it can be difficult.
The message from the research, teachers and health experts is clear: this is no longer a future threat. It is a current problem in South African schools, and it needs a coordinated response from government, parents, school governing bodies and health authorities. If nothing changes, the vaping trend could deepen the very academic and behavioural problems schools are already battling to contain.