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industry & reform
We do need to shine a light on what is inside these e-cigarettes .
‘ Very concerning ’
QLD launches vaping inquiry
By NCA NewsWire
A major inquiry into how many young people have taken up vaping has been launched in Queensland amid concerns that kids have become “ so addicted ” they can ’ t concentrate .
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has sounded the alarm on the number of young people vaping amid concerns primary school students had taken up the habit .
On Sunday , The Premier announced the state government would establish a parliamentary inquiry into the matter to seek to understand just how many Queenslanders were now vaping .
“ I ’ m hearing accounts of children in primary schools vaping on their lunch hour ,” she told reporters on Sunday .
“ These young kids are vaping in schools , and they ’ re vaping at home , so we ’ ve got to make sure everyone knows that vaping is not a good health outcome .”
Ms Palaszczuk said the inquiry would also consider what is in the vape fluid , known colloquially as ‘ e-juice ’, which can sometimes contain nicotine , artificial flavours and other potentially harmful chemicals — like nail polish remover .
The Queensland Parliament ’ s Health and Environment Committee will be tasked with looking at current measures being undertaken in schools to discourage vapers .
Health Minister Yvette D ’ Ath said she had heard concerns from principals that kids have become “ so addicted ” they can ’ t concentrate in class because they wanted to go out and vape .
“ That is very , very concerning , so we do need to shine a light on what is inside these e-cigarettes ,” she said .
In Australia , a 2022 study revealed that more than 70 per cent of high school teachers found an increase in vaping in students .
Primary school teachers reported a 27 per cent increase among their students .
Educators across the board said they had seen a drop in students ’ wellbeing , social interactions , and sporting and academic performance .
The Generation Vape study , led by Cancer Council NSW last year , found that Australian teens have no difficulties acquiring vapes illegally from friends , acquaintances , social media and vape stores .
Young Australians said the vape ’ s sweets flavours , like berries , energy drinks , bubble gum and other desserts , were the main factors in the product choice .
These flavours have pushed more than half of high schoolers who have never smoked to purchase a vape , according to the study .
Recent research published by Cancer Council Australia suggested more than 80 per cent of people in Queensland want the government to act on vaping .
The prevalence of daily smoking in Queensland continues to fall , but research from the Australian National University suggests people who try vaping are three times more likely to take up smoking .
In NSW , high-school principals also raised concerns over vaping last year after students were caught selling products on school grounds and smoking in classes .
Multiple schools across the state have also invested in hi-tech sensors installed in bathrooms to prevent students from vaping . Currently , most schools are providing information to students and parents about the dangers of vaping via the curriculum .
Under Australian laws , vaping products are illegal to sell to underage people , while disposable vapes can be sold to adults with valid prescriptions in pharmacies . ■
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