Vaping can cause acute lung damage, leading to some teens being admitted to intensive care.

Mira Osinibi, clinical paediatric respiratory nurse specialist at King’s College Hospital, London, said: “The biggest problem I’m seeing, particularly in my role, is that vaping addiction in young people sits side by side with time spent unconsciously scrolling on social media.

“The average of when they start vaping is 13 and the average when they are already hooked on it is 15.

“So Year Nine is, I think, a crucial year for them to go, ‘You know what, I like this’. You want to fit in and you want to do what others are doing.”

She said she is looking for counsellors to help young vape addicts to kick the habit.

She added: “I don’t want it to be back where tobacco was in the 40s and 50s. And this is a carbon copy of it, what’s happening with vape.”

Mira warned vape flavours are very addictive and wants more education to show adolescents and children the harm the habit causes.

She said: “I can’t see alcohol next to a Mars Bar, but I can see a vape next to a Mars Bar. This is conflicting with the children and parents and everyone else to say, ‘Well, it’s just a product’.

“It’s not just a product, it…can harm them.”

Around one in eight parents of children who vape believe they do so daily, according to the research from Zurich Insurance.

Four in 10 parents hope the Government’s Tobacco and Vape Bill will help phase out sales and curb youth vaping, the poll found.