Adolescent Health

Vaping

Recently we have been seeing some students ‘Vaping’ or using “e-cigarettes’ and we felt it is timely to raise the awareness of our families of the potential harms and consequences of Vaping on young people. 

Some of the chemicals in Vapes can be very addictive, such as nicotine, and can have a huge effect on young peoples health and well being as well as effect learning, memory and attention. 

Please take the time to have a discussion with your family around the potential pitfalls, legal issues and effects of vaping. The Royal Children’s Hospital publish the following fact sheet around Vaping for your information.

Mark Metcalf

Adolescent Health

eCigarettes and Teens

Recommendations for parents

As a parent and caregiver, you have an important role in protecting children from e-cigarettes. 

The best way to protect your children is to never smoke or vape in the house, car or other places where there may be children nearby. 

Passive exposure to e-cigarette vapour can be damaging for children and young people.

In most Australian states and territories, it is illegal to use e-cigarettes in cars with children under the age of 16 present.

Parents should learn about e-cigarettes. It’s important to talk to your teen about the health risks of e-cigarettes. Many teenagers are under the misconception that e-cigarettes are safe. It is helpful to know what the different devices look like and the different words young people may use to describe using e-cigarettes. This will help you to talk about e-cigarettes with your teen.

Finally, if you are an e-cigarette user, always keep e-cigarettes and e-liquids locked away and out of reach of children.

How to talk to teens about the health risks of using e-cigarettes?

Talking with teens about risky behaviours is an important way for parents to help keep them safe. Parents are already good at talking to their teens about alcohol, smoking and drugs. E-cigarettes should be included in the conversation.

The earlier and more often you speak with young people about e-cigarettes, the more likely they are to listen. It’s important for parents to educate themselves, so they know the facts and what to say when the topic comes up. 

Finally, young people are more likely to use smoking products if others around them do. Parents can lead by example by not using e-cigarettes at all, especially when children are around.

Key points to remember

E-cigarettes and vaping devices heat e-liquids into an aerosol that users breathe in;

E-liquids may contain nicotine, flavourings and a range of harmful and toxic chemicals;

E-cigarettes are also known as vapes, mods, e-hookahs and juuls;

Using e-cigarettes is sometimes called ‘vaping’ or ‘juuling’;

E-cigarettes and e-liquids have not been safety tested by the TGA in Australia, and should not be considered safe

For more Information

https://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/E-cigarettes_and_teens/