industry & reform
Up in smoke
Young non-smokers who vape are around three times as likely to take up smoking .
School principals concerned as teen vaping rate doubles .
By Emilie Lauer
The number of teenagers using e-cigarettes has doubled in just a year , an ‘ unsurprisingly ’ rapid growth the NSW Secondary School Principals ’ Council said .
Recent data from the NSW Population Health Survey found that 11.1 % of 16 to 24-year-olds are regular ‘ vape ’ users , against 4.5 % the year prior , making it the biggest vaping increase across all age groups .
Out of the 16-24 age group , young males vape the most , with 12.3 % against 9.8 % for young women .
At schools , vaping has infiltrated the playgrounds , leaving teachers and principals concerned as they see student ’ s behaviour change negatively .
“ We are seeing a serious change in behaviour , behaviour we have not seen before . Students become edgy , anxious , uncooperative , disruptive in class and even violent ,” Deputy President of the NSW Secondary Principals Council , Christine Del Gallo , told Education Review .
Earlier this year , students in NSW were caught selling vapes on school properties , prompting officials to recognise the issue of e-cigarettes at schools .
“ It is easy to vape in the classroom – a vape in a pencil case is easily accessible and used before anyone is aware ,” Del Gallo said .
Across the country , schools are facing the vaping scourge as students leave their classrooms to take ‘ a puff ’ in the bathrooms , corridors and outdoor areas .
In Victoria , multiple schools have invested in hi-tech sensors to prevent students from vaping .
Installed in the bathrooms , the sensors aim to detect vape smoke and send an alert to school staff , while CCTV cameras are placed outside the bathroom door to ensure the right student is identified and can receive appropriate help .
According to Del Gallo , sensors are expensive and unreliable as they need to be positioned out of harm ’ s way and miss detecting the smoke .
“ The biggest problem is that they can ’ t just detect vapes , they detect many other particles in the air .
“ Teachers are staying vigilant to the altered behaviour of students , and implement discipline to vapers as it is an illegal activity ,” added Del Gallo .
Currently , most schools are managing student ’ s vaping by providing information to students and parents about the dangers of using electronic cigarettes , including via the personal development curricula .
“ Parents may be unaware of the dangers of vaping and unaware that their child is vaping ,” Del Gallo said .
While 63 % of students get their vape from friends , seven per cent of students aged between 12 and 17 reported getting ( or taking ) their e-cigarette from a parent .
A poll conducted by the Royal Children Hospital of Melbourne showed that one in three parents had no knowledge of an e-cigarette ’ s composition , making them clueless about the toxins and chemicals contained .
In addition , 40 per cent of parents were unaware that vapes could be deadly .
However , the impact of vapes on teenagers ’ health can be devastating ; signs of cardiovascular issues have been demonstrated including high blood pressure , poorer lung functioning , heart rate problems and vapes have been responsible for at least a dozen deaths worldwide .
Vaping can also impair cognitive functions such as learning and concentration as nicotine impacts the development of young people ’ s brain .
Del Gallo believes that students continue to vape because they think that it is ‘ harmless ’.
According to a recent report from the ANU , the growing number of young people using e-cigarettes can be linked to the myth around vapes not being dangerous as it is just ‘ water vapour ’.
ANU has issued a warning against the risk of youth vaping which could lead a new generation to smoking long term .
“ Young non-smokers who vape are around three times as likely to take up smoking than non-vapers ,” lead author Professor Emily Banks said .
“ Nicotine is a key ingredient and one of the most addictive substances known . Vaping is causing addiction in a new generation of users .
“ Our young people have been through a lot and they deserve the best future possible – the evidence is that avoiding e-cigarettes should be part of that ,” Banks added . ■ educationreview . com . au | 9