Campaign launched to tackle vaping by young people.
NSW Health has launched a new campaign to raise awareness of the health risks of vaping in young people aged 14 to 17 years.
The social media campaign includes a Vaping Toolkit to support young people aged 14 to 17 years, parents, educators, health and other professionals, and community health organisation with information and strategies to educate and protect young people from the harms of e-cigarettes.
E-cigarettes, or 'vapes', are not safe and can be harmful to health. They come in many shapes and sizes and can be hard to spot as they can look like everyday items including highlighters, pens or USB memory sticks.
Use of e-cigarettes among young people in NSW is increasing despite it being illegal to sell any vape or e-liquid to anyone under 18 years.
Parents and carers, school staff and the NSW Department of Education are reporting increased prevalence of e-cigarettes among school students, including on school premises.
The biggest misunderstanding about vapes is that they are harmless compared to cigarettes. This is not true. Vapes are not safe.
The increase in vaping among young people is putting them at risk of negative health effects. Vapes can contain the same harmful chemicals found in cleaning products, nail polish remover, weed killer and bug spray. There is also evidence that the use of e-cigarettes, either with or without nicotine, may provide a gateway to a lifetime of nicotine addiction. Nicotine in vapes can put young people at increased risk of depression and anxiety.
Many of the long-term harms of vaping are still unknown. However, research has shown that young people who use e-cigarettes are three times as likely to take up tobacco smoking as those who have not used e-cigarettes.
Get the facts and access the Vaping Toolkit at www.health.nsw.gov.au/vaping
Get help quitting
Quitline counsellors are available to answer any questions you may have about quitting e-cigarettes on 13 7848 (13 QUIT).
The Aboriginal Quitline is also available on 13 7848. Run by Aboriginal Advisors, the Aboriginal Quitline is a telephone-based confidential advice and support service.
For people who are attempting to quit tobacco, using nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products such as lozenges, gums, nasal sprays and patches, are safer and are proven to help you quit. The NSW Cancer Institute iCanQuit website provides information on quitting methods, links to support groups and top tips to help you quit.
For free and confidential advice 24/7 call the Alcohol and Drug Information Service (ADIS) on 1800 250 015. Counsellors are available to provide information, referrals, crisis counselling and support. Or start a Web Chat with an ADIS counsellor online Monday to Friday, 8.30am – 5pm.
