NHS Data Released

In 2023 the survey was administered online for the first time, instead of paper-based surveys as in previous years. This move online also meant that completion of the survey could be managed through teacher-led sessions, rather than being conducted by external interviewers. The 2023 survey also introduced additional questions relating to pupils’ wellbeing. These included how often the pupil felt lonely, felt left out and that they had no-one to talk to. Results of analysis covering these questions have been presented within parts of the report and associated data tables.

The report includes this summary report showing key findings, excel tables with more detailed outcomes, technical appendices and a data quality statement. An anonymised record level file of the underlying data on which users can carry out their own analysis will be made available via the UK Data Service later in 2024 (see link below).

Key findings from the report:

• The prevalence of smoking cigarettes is similar to the 2021 survey. 11% of pupils had ever smoked (12% in 2021), 3% were current smokers and 1% were regular smokers (both unchanged from 2021)
• Current e-cigarette use (vaping) remains at 9%, the same as in 2021. 1 in 4 pupils (25%) in the 2023 survey reported having ever tried vaping
• Of pupils who have ever tried vaping, 89% have never regularly smoked tobacco cigarettes. A further 6% reported starting vaping before smoking tobacco cigarettes, only 5% of pupils reported smoking tobacco cigarettes before using vapes.
• 37% of pupils said they had ever had an alcoholic drink. Prevalence increases with age, from 15% of 11-year-olds to 62% of 15 year olds
• 5% of all pupils said they usually drank alcohol at least once per week, similar to 2021 (6%). The proportion increases with age, from 1% of 11- and 12-year-olds to 11% of 15-year-olds
• Fall in prevalence of lifetime illicit drug use. 13% of pupils reported they had ever taken drugs (18% in 2021), 9% had taken drugs in the last year, and 5% in the last month
• 10% of pupils reported feeling lonely often or always. 18% of pupils felt that they often had no-one to talk to, and 15% said that they often felt left out

Hazel Cheeseman, the new Chief Executive of Action on Smoking and Health, commented: “It is vital the Government bring forward the Tobacco and Vapes Bill as soon as possible to accelerate progress towards a smokefree generation and more effectively regulate vaping. While smoking rates have fallen dramatically among 11–15-year-olds over the last few decades, this data indicate progress is stalling and show a particularly worrying jump in 11-year-olds reporting ever smoking or currently smoking.

“At the same time youth vaping remains too high and is unlikely to fall without further regulations to limit the appeal of vapes to teens. Today’s data should be the impetus the Government needs to bring forward legislation for first reading.”

Photo Credit:

• Photo by Joshua Sortino on Unsplash, resized

Dave Cross

Journalist at POTV

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Dave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.