Member of Unpacking Vaping Advisory Committee – focussed on School age children.
Australia has led the world with regulation of cigarettes. Our community understands the harms of smoking cigarettes.
Now there is regulation of e cigarettes. Single use vapes are now banned. And vapes can only be sold at pharmacies to the over 18. It can no longer be sold at tobacconist or other small businesses.
Vaping Adolescents and children
The problem
The number of children smoking e cigarettes at school was increasing in the past 5 years.
Vaping increases the risk of seizures, insomnia, anxiety and depression, and lung damage (from depositing aerosol and particulate matter in the airways).
It is very easy to be addicted to vapes.
It can accelerate dental caries. There is 3 times the risk of progressing combustible tobacco use.
What is a vape?
Vaping devices heats a mixture and generate an aerosol together with particles. This is inhaled mixed with pure air.
The original mixture of vapes is glycerine, propylene glycol, nicotine and flavours that soaked into a sponge.
What you inhale?
A. The original mixture
B. Chemicals from the mixture reaction
C. Thermal degradation from A and B depending on device characteristics
D. Metals and other materials from heating the device
E. Thermal degradation of the sponge.
Vapes are Waste disposal problem
This can be complex, expensive and confusing for the public.
Vapes need to be pulled apart before they can be disposed of. There are various hazardous components to them — a lithium battery, toxic liquids, nicotine.
Councils will need to deal with this as it is too dangerous for the public to deal with.
How can we discourage children and adolescents from starting vaping and using other products now on the market containing nicotine and flavourings that are now entering the market?
The BEAT Programme
Breathe Easy All Together is a programme at the forefront of e cigarette prevention in Western Sydney. Working together are Prevention Education and Research Unit (PERU) and Eastern Creek Principles network. BEAT utilises evidence-based programme with peer lead education model to empower students to make informed decisions about vaping.
The BEAT programme is currently recruiting schools.
The incidence of vaping in 14–17-year-olds is one ten. It important not normalise the behaviour. The risk of harm is so significant that the prevention strategies are vital.
