Secondary News
Recently, every student throughout the Secondary School at Lakeside College listened to a presentation given by our college nurse on vaping. The presentation provided a no-holds-bar look into the dangers of vaping for people in general, but adolescents in particular. I thought it poignant that given the rise in the number of young people across Australia choosing to vape, that I use this Newsletter article to present some facts and figures on vaping, as well as strategies parents/guardians can employ to assist their son/daughter to not uptake or continue to participate in vaping.
What is a Vape?
E-cigarettes, also known as ‘vapes’, are electronic devices that heat a liquid (or ‘juice’) to create anaerosol that users inhale. Using an e-cigarette is commonly called ‘vaping’. E-cigarettes come in all shapes and sizes and can look like a highlighter, a pen or USB. Some people mistakenly believe the ‘cloud’ from vaping is a vapour, like steam. It is really an aerosol, a fine spray of chemicals that enter the body via the lungs and small particles that can lodge in the lungs.
What’s inside an e-cigarette?
The short answer is ‘no-one knows’, and that’s a problem. An e-cigarette can contain many different chemicals – very few are identified and none have been tested to show they are safe to inhale. Some of the chemicals found in aerosols can cause cancer, others can cause swelling and irritation in the throat and lungs and can impact the heart. Even though the packaging on an e-cigarette might say it doesn’t contain nicotine, most e-cigarettes in Australia are labelled wrongly and do actually contain nicotine.
How vaping affects your body?
Vaping can cause significant harm to your body in the short and long term - even if you use non-nicotine e-cigarettes.
| Short-term | Long-term |
|---|---|
| Vomiting | Lung damage |
| Nausea | Heart disease |
| Coughing | |
| Shortness of breath | |
| Mouth irritation |
E-cigarettes haven’t been around long enough to know if they cause other diseases, but most experts think it is likely they will cause lung and mouth cancers. Furthermore, nicotine is a poison and can make you really sick if it is swallowed accidentally. There have also been cases of e-cigarettes exploding and catching fire.
How vaping can lead to addiction?
- Nicotine is a highly addictive drug that can be found in e-cigarettes even when they’re labelled ‘nicotine-free’
- Some e-cigarettes have been shown to contain as much nicotine as a whole packet of cigarettes
- Your brain is still developing until you’re 25
- Nicotine use affects brain development, especially the part responsible for attention, memory and learning
- Nicotine use can lead to life-long issues
- Nicotine addiction happens really fast, which makes it hard to stop vaping and increases the chance you’ll start smoking cigarettes to get that nicotine ‘hit’
Many young people buy into the myth that vaping does not cause them any harm and wonder what all the fuss is about by adults who warn them against vaping. Below is a table which seeks to provide some clarification of the myths associated with vaping.
| Myth | Facts |
|---|---|
| It’s only water vapour | Vaping products, actually produce an aerosol, which is a fine spray of chemicals and particles. Those particles can lodge in your lungs and the chemicals can enter your body via the lungs. |
| It’s just flavouring | The flavours of e-cigarettes are made from multiple chemicals that are not safe to inhale into the lungs. Inhaling chemicals can damage your airways and lungs, with the long-term damage still not known. |
| Vaping is safe | E-cigarettes contain harmful chemicals, which can cause short and long-term health effects like vomiting, shortness of breath and lung damage. E-cigarettes haven’t been around long enough to know all the health risks, but experts think it is likely they will cause mouth and lung cancers. |
| The brand I buy is labelled nicotine-free | Labels are frequently wrong. Most e-cigarettes on the market in Australia contain nicotine, even those that claim that they don’t. E-cigarettes are un regulated, which means there are no consequences for a manufacturer who doesn’t label their product accurately. Even nicotine-free e-cigarettes are harmful to your health. |
| I won’t get addicted | Nicotine is a highly addictive drug. Brains are still developing until the age of 25, so teens and young adults are especially vulnerable to nicotine addiction. Vaping increases the likelihood teens will smoke cigarettes down the track, probably because the nicotine addiction– started by vaping – drives people to get a nicotine hit from cigarettes which are more readily available. |
| But what about vape challenges on TikTok? | Vape challenges promoted on social media platforms, like TikTok and YouTube, are often sponsored by tobacco and e-cigarette companies. They’re designed to get you to buy their products and get addicted to nicotine. These companies don’t care about your health, they’re only out to make money. |
| Vapes are safer than tobacco cigarettes | Vapes are more like tobacco cigarettes than you might think. Nearly all tobacco companies make e-cigarettes because they see vaping as away to hook new customers. |
What to do if your child already vapes or smokes?
If your child is already vaping or smoking, or if you suspect they may be, try to avoid getting angry at them or making threats. Instead, stay calm and try having a conversation with them using a reasonable ‘adult-to-adult’ tone. Use open-ended questions.
Find out what they find appealing about the products. For example, it may be fitting in with their peers is important. Don’t try to force your child to stop seeing their friends who vape or smoke.
You could try saying you disapprove of vaping and smoking, but let your child try to fit in with their peers in other ways such as buying the same style of clothes as their friends. Or you could help your child to question the value of always following the crowd. It can be an opportunity to encourage your child to think and act independently.
Teens with disposable income are more at risk of trying vaping out of curiosity. Having a conversation with them about their spending and saving habits and what other interests or hobbies they would like to spend their money on may help.
As teens experiencing stress, anxiety and depression are more at risk of smoking, encouraging a more holistic approach to health and wellbeing may also help. For example, having a good sleep routine, a healthy diet, doing exercise they enjoy, engaging in programs that support mental health such as mindfulness meditation, and other strategies that reduce anxiety and depression may help.
As you can see, there is a great deal of information which exists about vaping. There is also a significant amount of confusion and misconception about vaping within the broader community. I would encourage parents to seek support from a family GP or other medical professional if they need support in helping their child with a vaping addiction. I would also encourage parents/guardians to contact me if they would like to discuss anything related to this Newsletter piece with me.
Robert Tassoni
Head of Secondary
SEPEP
In sport, the year 8’s are playing a student SEPEP that they run themselves. We have five teams - The Wild Monkeys, The Hoop Ledgends, Jalepeno Hotties, The Ninjago Warriors, and the The Green Bandits. We encourage you to talk and chat to your child about the program!
Everyone in the game performed well, but some people that we would like to highlight for their outstanding performance are Ella B, Kayla, Lazaro, Dot, Ayen and Maddison W. Both teams were good sports and sorted out between themselves who was to sub for players. The teams started friendly conversations amongst themselves.
Written by Savannah S
Q1
Jalapenos doing good with passes. Hoop Ledgends doing good with defence, fast running. Jalapeno Hotties staying on players. End of quarter - Light (JH) - 2 Dark (HL) - 6.
Q2
Sienna smashing passes. Jess defending really well. Great teamwork on both teams. Lucas defending giving Hoop Ledgends 2 points. Ella D supporting her team, also Hoop Ledgends. Both teams end with a score of JH - 2 HL - 10
Q3
Second half off to a great start. Hoop Legends killing it with 2-12, also great passing. Great rebounds for Jalepeno Hotties. Josh having a go at shooting. Quarter ends with a score of JH - 5 and HL - 14.
Q4
Last quarter, the pressure for Jalapeno Hotties hits and they have 1 quarter to come back. Great team effort in Hoop Ledgends Ella D bringing the ball back down the court, defending while shes at it. Marlon using speed to gain a point. Sienna always encouraging her team members.
Final game score of the jalapeno Hotties and The Hoop Ledgends was 9 - 24 in favour of the Hoop Ledgends.
Written by Nadia K
Q1
Ninjago Warriors play good and use all players while the Green Bandits spread out and pass the ball well.
Q2
The Green Bandits keep the ball on their side of the court most of the time. The Ninjago Warriors play their strengths and get many points.
Half Time
The Green Bandits take a break, while the Ninjago Warriors work on their techniques.
Q3
The Green Bandits are taking advantage of the ball and getting close to shooting goals, but unfortunately for them, the opposition keep scoring.
Q4
Ninjago Warriors play well and score, but the Green bandits still keep hope and continue to put the work in during the game.
Final game score in favour of the Ninjago Warriors being 39 - 2
Written by Natalie M
Q1
The Hoop Legends start the game fast with the first goal. The Wild Monkeys actively trying to catch up as the Hoop Legends lead 4 - 0. First quarter ends with The Hoop Legends in the lead.
Q2
Both teams start back up again strongly. Once again, the Hoop Legends are the first to score, but the Wild Monkeys remain persistant. The Hoop Legends score continuously. The quarter ends with the Hoop Legends leading 12-0.
Q3
Hoop Legends first to score again. Another goal from the Hoop Legends, immediately followed by another one. The Wild Monkeys nearly score, but the ball is reclaimed by the Hoop Legends. Both teams are performing exceptionally, but the Hoop Legends are absolutely on fire, getting one goal after the other. The quarter ends with Hoop Legends leading 26-0.
Q4
The Hoop Legends first to score only 5 seconds into the quarter. However, it has to be said, the Wild Monkeys diligence cannot be waived. The Hoop Legends score again.. The Wild Monkeys score their first goal of the game! The game then ends with the score of 38-2 in favour of the Hoop Legends.
Written by Sargun K
Grand Final
The grand final was played between the Jalapeno Hotties and the Hoop Legends. Throughout the term, both Jalapeno Hotties and Hoop Legends have been playing the game at their best, both as teams and individuals, being the teams to beat.
The game starts out well, both teams scoring, bringing the ball up and down the court. The game is pretty even, though the Hotties seem to be winning in possessions and scores. They make subs, and restart the game. Since the subs, the Legends have had more ball control, but the Hotties are still up. Hotties continue to score off of rebounds, while the Legends continue to try their best at the ring.
Half time, the Hotties are up 18-4. Both teams huddled up trying to see what the best decision is for the half ahead of them.
Start of the second half, the Hotties start the game well, with the ball out of the bounce, but the Legends quickly regaining that power, then quickly losing it. First score of the half goes Legends. Subs are made again. Refs take a score off of the Hotties after they have gotten 2 points, because of rudeness toward the referees. The game continues as the scores stay the same. End of the game, and the Jalapeno Hotties have won to the Hoop Legends with a score of 23-12.
Well done to both teams in the grand final, and to all the teams and players who continually put effort in throughout the term.
Intermediate Basketball
On Monday the 15th of August, a group of year 9 and 10 students represented the college at the District Intermediate Basketball. The boys ‘A’ team finished in 3rd place, winning 2 out of 4 games. The boys ‘B’ team finished in 4th place, winning 2 out of 5 games.
Congratulations to the girls team, who were crowned champions after winning all 5 of their games, they will move on to the next round later in the year.
Well done to everyone who participated, they represented Lakeside with pride.
Mr Ben Hillard
Physical Education Teacher