Police seize high-nicotine e-cigarettes from youth in West Uusimaa, Finland

Police in West Uusimaa have been frequently seizing high-nicotine e-cigarettes, known as vapes, from young people. According to a police statement, the nicotine concentration in these vapes can reach as high as 50 mg/ml, significantly surpassing Finland’s legal limit of 20 mg/ml. Such high levels of nicotine can lead to rapid addiction. Many youth acquire these vapes from street vendors and often share them among peers. Police officer Petteri Hokkinen mentioned that the price of a vape on the street has stabilized at around €20.

The sale of vapes can be lucrative for young people. However, the street trade of these products also presents various issues, as it may expose young individuals to robberies, thefts, and conflicts over debts related to these transactions. Notably, some users are still children. The youngest individuals found in possession of these vapes have been around ten years old.

In Finland, it is legal to sell only unflavored or tobacco-flavored nicotine liquids to adults. The vapes used by youths often contain flavors that are prohibited in Finland. A study conducted by the Finnish Broadcasting Company in 2023 on seized vapes revealed alarming levels of lead contamination.

Hokkinen pointed out that a single vape can contain an extraordinarily high number of doses, sometimes up to 20,000. According to the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare’s 2023 survey, 5.5% of fourth and fifth graders reported having used tobacco products or e-cigarettes at least once, with over 95,000 students participating. The police urge parents to pay close attention to whether their children are using e-cigarettes.