Vaping, smoking, snus causing dozens of daily ER visits due to nicotine overdoses
February 05, 2026 by nltimes.nl
Vaping, smoking, snus causing dozens of daily ER visits due to nicotine overdoses
A nationwide study in the Netherlands identified that smoking, vaping, and snus use cause around 26,000 emergency department visits annually, with nicotine contributing to symptoms in 7% of patients. Conducted by Dr. Nicole Kraaijvanger from Leiden University Medical Center, the survey included 2,061 patients from 67 emergency departments. Results showed that smoking and vaping were linked to 44% of nicotine-related emergency visits, mostly due to traditional cigarette use. Vaping, considered safer, still led to issues like lung irritation and respiratory conditions. The impact may be underestimated due to severe cases not surveyed, emphasizing the need for preventive measures in healthcare settings.
19.30% of the adult population are current smokers. There are approximately 3.0 million current smokers in Netherlands 22.00% of men are current smokers but only 16.70% of women.
SOURCE: GSTHR
