WELLBEING

VAPING AMONGST TEENAGERS

As a college we continue to educate and support young people around vaping and the impact on their health and wellbeing.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics just under one in twelve (7.6%) people aged 15–17 years had used an e-cigarette or vaping device at least once.

Figures from the 2019 National Drug Strategy Household Survey conducted by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), 3.3% of Australians aged 14–19 years reported using e-cigarettes in the past 12 months.

Other findings from the survey regarding e-cigarette use among Australian teenagers include:

• E-cigarette use was more common among older teenagers, with 5.6% of 18–19 year olds reporting past 12-month use, compared to 1.2% of 14–15 year olds.
• Among teenagers who reported using e-cigarettes in the past 12 months, the most commonly reported reasons for use were to try something new (38.9%) and to look cool or fit in with friends (28.1%).
• E-cigarette use was more common among current smokers, with 45.9% of teenage current smokers reporting past 12-month use, compared to 0.6% of never smokers.

There are concerns about the potential for e-cigarette use to lead to nicotine addiction and smoking initiation among teenagers. The sale of nicotine-containing e-cigarettes is illegal in Australia, and the use of e-cigarettes by minors is also prohibited in many states and territories.

The government introduced legislation to further restrict the sale, advertising, and promotion of e-cigarette products. For example, from 1 October 2021, it is illegal to sell e-cigarette products to anyone under the age of 18, and advertising of e-cigarettes is banned in all forms of media. These measures are intended to help prevent e-cigarette use among young people and to ensure that these products are used safely and responsibly by those who choose to use them.

Here is some helpful information on what parents can do to assist their young people which starts by having a conversation about vaping.