ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A recent study conducted in Sulaimani has found widespread vaping among high school students in the city, with the author of the study saying that they view the trend as a form of “social deviance.”
"Due to its appearance, colors, and various flavors, vaping has become a trend" in Sulaimani, Bahar Hassan, a researcher at University of Sulaimani, told Rudaw on Saturday, adding that "not only adults but even children find it difficult to quit, and its consumption is steadily increasing."
According to the study, surveyed students reported a range of symptoms, including shortness of breath, tooth discoloration and decay, bad breath, insomnia, poor concentration, menstrual irregularities, hair loss, irritability, and anger.
Vaping devices are widely advertised and sold discreetly in smoking shops in Erbil, Sulaimani, and Duhok.
Vaping products sold in markets across the Kurdistan Region are chiefly imported from China, Iran and Turkey. Prices range from as low as 1,000 Iraqi dinars ($0.7) to 100,000 Iraqi dinars (approximately $71).
In June 2025, local authorities in Erbil announced the destruction of more than 8,000 vaping devices.
Hassan attributed the high prevalence to adolescence, low self-esteem, peer pressure and imitation, social media usage, and attempts to quit traditional smoking, among several other environmental factors.
Her study presents several recommendations to various entities. Specifically, it proposes that the Kurdistan Parliament enact legislation restricting vaping to individuals over the age of 20 and penalizing violators, noting that adolescence begins to fade at this age, giving way to maturity and psychological stability.
Although the Kurdistan Region parliament passed an anti-smoking law that banned smoking in public places in 2007, the law has yet to be effectively enforced.
Vapes are often marketed as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes. However, they carry significant health risks. Vape aerosols contain nicotine - a highly addictive substance that is especially harmful to developing brains - as well as chemicals linked to severe lung conditions and inflammation.
Beyond respiratory issues, vaping has been shown to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease by elevating heart rate and blood pressure. Users are also exposed to toxic substances and heavy metals, which may contribute to long-term cancer risks and other chronic health problems.
According to 2024 data from the Tobacco Atlas - a global public health initiative recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) - some 18.3 percent of Iraqis aged 15 and older smoke.
Shkar Rebwar contributed to this report from Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region.
