Vaping: time to tackle scourge harming kids
As the Australian Federal Government closes their public consultation on e-cigarettes, find out more about what these products are, the serious risks posed, and what can be done about it.
In early December 2022, a 12 year old boy called a Victorian health helpline*. Overwhelmed and in tears, he sought support and advice.
He explained that in his class at school, it was now easier to count the number of children not lured by e-cigarettes, and that he increasingly felt pressure to do the same.
Upset and feeling trapped, he didn’t want to succumb to the enormous push by the e-cigarette industry, mainly through his social media channels, to take up this highly addictive and harmful habit.
Sobbing, he also explained he desperately sought to avoid disappointing his parents.
No child in Australia should be put in this position. Nor should we for a moment think that the issue falls with the individual young person, their parents or our teachers.
This is the dangerous outcome purposefully shaped by the e-cigarette industry, intent on putting profits above all else, including the health of young people.
An industry resolute on getting an entirely new generation addicted to nicotine.
In just the last three years, Australia has seen a tidal wave of cheap and highly addictive e-cigarettes cross our borders and flood our communities. Avoiding the weak protections and regulations in place to protect public health, millions of these products have found their way into our schools and into the hands of young adults – and even children.
E-cigarettes can contain as many as 200 toxic chemicals, often undisclosed, including chemicals such as formaldehyde and heavy metals, known to be associated with cancer and brain damage.
With every puff, these dangerous chemicals are delivered deep into the developing lungs of a young person. They also linger in the environment around the young person, with second-hand inhalation increasingly associated with asthma, bronchitis and inflammation of the lung tissue.
Vaping products come in flavours like ‘cookies and cream’ or ‘strawberry kisses’. A single disposable product can contain as much nicotine as 50 traditional cigarettes and cost as little as $5.
The result? Young adults aged 18-24 are now the single largest user group of e-cigarettes, and a recent survey showed that 80% of New South Wales teenagers who have vaped found it “easy” to access e-cigarettes from multiple illegal sources, and that flavour was the main factor driving product choice.
Evidence also suggests those who use e-cigarettes are up to three times more likely to go on to smoke combustible cigarettes. A product that is known to kill two in three of its long-term users.
Now the tobacco and e-cigarette industry wants you to think that the proverbial horse has bolted, that it is too late for proper protections, and we should just open the floodgates further.
This is the outcome the industry has been planning for, in the hope that they will be left to fully profiteer from their latest poisonous ploy.
But now is not the time for hesitancy or further complacency, now is the time for urgent government action.
On Monday, the Australian Government closed its national consultation into what actions are required to protect communities and young people from the harms of e-cigarettes. A process of calling for input, expertise and evidence, this consultation heralds a hopeful step towards taking comprehensive action.
Something health experts and doctors across the country have been calling for, and welcome strongly.
Governments must step up and protect teenagers and young adults in Australia from these highly addictive and toxic products. To achieve this, four actions are required.
First, we must stop the deluge of e-cigarette products across our borders and block their importation.
Stopping the flood of cheap, addictive and dangerous imports must be the top priority for government, while ensuring the small minority who are using e-cigarettes to quit combustible tobacco products are able to continue to access these devices with a valid prescription from their GP.
Second, is to end the sale and supply of these products through protections at the national level. The only exception being the sale by pharmacies to smokers looking to quit combustible cigarettes, and with a valid prescription.
This includes e-cigarettes that do not declare nicotine as an ingredient. In fact, a recent audit of products in WA found that up to 7 in 10 products circumvented current laws by simply not declaring the high quantities of nicotine contained in the vape.
Third, we must update our now decade-old protections around the marketing and promotion of these products, and tobacco more broadly. These laws were world-class 10 years ago; a time before social media and devious dark marketing tactics.
No child should have their phone and personal data weaponised against them, to push an addictive product and derive profit for an industry at the cost of that child’s health and development. These loopholes must be closed.
Finally, we must support those already addicted to e-cigarettes – including the classmates and friends of our young helpline caller.
More needs to be done to support schools, teachers, parents and young people themselves who are now struggling with addiction to nicotine. Health promotion campaigns, support services and tailored information is vital.
For the sake of Australia’s young people, 2023 must be the year that the Australian Government implements effective protections when it comes to e-cigarettes.
We have no time to waste.
* The individual’s exact details from this encounter have been changed to protect their identity. This article was first published as an op ed in the Australian Herald Sun.
What is a vape, or e-cigarette?
E-cigarettes, also known more commonly as "vapes", are battery-operated devices that usually work by heating a sticky liquid until it becomes an aerosol – turning a viscous gel into a plume of tiny particles.
The manufacturers of e-cigarettes call them "vapes" because they want people to think they're breathing in vapour, but the reality is that "plume" of smoke from someone using an e-cigarette is actually an aerosol full of toxic chemicals.
As a result, breathing in the aerosols from e-cigarettes lodges toxic particles deep in the lungs, increasing the risk and severity of respiratory conditions like asthma.
What's inside an e-cigarette?
All e-cigarette users are exposed to chemicals that have the potential to cause harm.
More than 200 chemicals have been associated with the liquids inside vapes, including chemicals commonly found in nail polish remover and weed killer.
One concerning ingredient is nicotine.
Teens and young adults are especially vulnerable to nicotine addiction as their brains are still developing until the age of 25.
Young people can also experience high levels of stress and anxiety associated with their dependence on e-cigarettes.
The dangers of vaping
Our lungs rely on us breathing in clean, fresh air that powers our bodies and brains.
E-cigarettes deliver a potent mix of chemicals deep into our delicate lung tissue – causing inflammation, worsening common conditions like asthma, and possibly increasing the risk of significant, long-term disease.
Many of the chemicals found in e-cigarettes are highly corrosive and don't belong in our lungs — like acetone, which is commonly found in paint thinner and pesticides.
Other substances found in e-cigarettes include formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and acrolein, which are known to cause cancer. Some of the chemicals in e-cigarette aerosols can also cause DNA damage.
The liquids inside vapes can poison children and adults through swallowing or skin contact. Symptoms of nicotine poisoning include sweating, dizziness, vomiting and increased heart rate.
What attracts young people to vaping?
The vaping industry designs e-cigarettes to appeal specifically to young people, with sweet flavours such as “chocolate milk”, “fruit loops” and “strawberry kisses” wrapped in brightly coloured packaging.
In Australia, it is illegal to sell e-cigarettes to anyone under 18 and e-cigarettes containing nicotine are only meant to be sold to adults with a prescription from their doctor. These restrictions are not being enforced.
Social media is being used extensively by tobacco and e-cigarette companies to market and sell e-cigarettes to teens and young adults.
Vape challenges promoted on social media platforms, like TikTok and YouTube, are often sponsored by tobacco and e-cigarette companies.
These companies are using every trick in the book to hook a new generation of Australians on toxic nicotine products.
How do I talk to my kids about vaping?
When it comes to talking to children, approach the conversation calmly, and ask questions. Try not to lecture or judge.
If your child may have tried vaping, please don't feel judged.
Conversations you might already be having with your teenager about alcohol, smoking and drugs should also include vaping. It's never too early to discuss this with them.
Quit Victoria, The Royal Children's Hospital and The Raising Children Network also have a range of resources available online to help young people better understand the risks. These resources are available at quit.org.au/teenvaping.
It might also help to get support and share advice with other parents of teenagers.
Call Quitline (13 7848) for free advice. Quitline counsellors can answer any questions you may have about e-cigarettes and can help you think of ways to approach the conversation.
If your teenager or young person wants help to quit vaping, they can have a confidential, live chat with a Quitline counsellor at quit.org.au.
This article was originally published with ABC.
Evidence spotlight 💡
We all know exercise is good for our body and mind, but did you know that where you exercise could add additional benefits? A recent review brought together 19 studies from around the world to examine the effect of three different exercise locations on mood:
“Non-natural” settings such as the gym or other indoor space
“Green” settings like a local park
“Wild” settings, for example forests or mountains
The researchers found that exercising in green settings reduced negative moods like anxiety and fatigue more than exercising in non-natural locations. There was also some evidence that wild settings have additional benefits over green settings for boosting feelings of vigour and comfort.
But don’t despair if you can’t access forests and mountains 3 times a week - the authors concluded that urban green spaces are a more convenient option and give most of the same mood effects as ‘wild’ settings.
So if your local park or walking track has some exercise equipment, consider greening up your home or gym routine and see if you get an additional mood boost!
(And remember to check in with a health professional before commencing any new exercise).
This summary was produced by the Monash Sustainable Development Evidence Review Service from the following published research review:
Li, Hansen, Xing Zhang, Shilin Bi, Yang Cao, and Guodong Zhang. “Psychological Benefits of Green Exercise in Wild or Urban Greenspaces: A Meta-Analysis of Controlled Trials.” Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 68 (February 2022): 127458. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2022.127458.
Monash Sustainable Development Institute works with industry, government and the community to help achieve the Global Goals of the United Nations. The MSDI evidence review service brings together research knowledge from around the world to inform policy and practice.
Twitter handles: @MonashMSDI, @BraggePeter
Good news in the world of health 💙
While most of our world is getting faster, a Dutch supermarket chain has recently introduced new “Slow Checkout Lanes” for older people wanting to have a chat.
Aimed at reducing loneliness, boosting mental health and providing opportunities for social connection, the Jumbo chain introduced Kletskassa, which translates to something like “chat checkout” across its 700 stores.
“Many people, the elderly in particular, can feel lonely. As a family business and supermarket chain we have a central role in society. Our shops are a meeting place and that means we can do something to combat loneliness.”
New lanes, they’re especially for seniors and customers who are not in a rush and could use a little talk time with the cashier.
What I’m cooking this week 🍋
It’s peak summer here in Melbourne, so I have loads of tasty produce in my small veggie garden. Basil, zucchinis, green beans and tomatoes. My favourite ‘go to’ for these goodies is a simple summertime pasta.
In a shallow pot, or large frypan, slowly sizzle a chopped onion in olive oil until it becomes slightly translucent and sweet. Then add chopped zucchini, green beans and frozen peas — along with half a cup of water and pop on the lid. After 5mins, add freshly chopped (or tinned) tomatoes and some salt.
Simmer on medium for 15mins.
At the same time, boil salted water and cook your pasta.
Once the sauce is thick and the veg is softening — and the pasta is al dente — toss the pasta through the sauce. Serve with fresh chilli, loads of chopped fresh basil, and a good lashing of olive oil.
Season, simple, veg-forward and so tasty.
Buon appetito!
Great insights and featured here Sandro! I agree with a lot of points on vamping and the rise of e-cigarettes. I also think the awareness starts within schools where teachers need to highlight and go through the harms of taking up this habit in school assemblies and in their health subjects.