36th UP Expert Lecture
Theme: Youth vaping and cannabis co-use: Policy failure or mental health crisis?
A silent storm is brewing among South African youth – a rapid rise in vaping and cannabis co-use. Is this an unintended consequence of recent policy shifts, such as the Cannabis for Private Use Act of 2024 and delayed regulation of e-cigarettes? Or are we witnessing a deeper, overlooked youth mental health crisis?
Drawing on new national survey data and global trends, this lecture explores the complex interplay between substance use, policy, and mental well-being, while raising urgent questions about how society and health systems should respond to protect the next generation.
Presented by Professor Olalekan (Lekan) Ayo-Yusuf, Professor, Chairperson and Head of the School of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Pretoria.
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Date: 06 October 2025Time: 18:00 - 19:00
Venue: Future Africa, Hillcrest Campus, University of Pretoria, Johannesburg