‘Shocking’ one in three teens admit to trying vaping

Surviving as a teenager can be hard enough but there are scary new concerns for those impressionable.

Vaping is rampant among Qld teenagers with the numbers using electronic cigarettes doubling since 2017.

Vaping is rampant among Queensland teenagers with the numbers using electronic cigarettes doubling since 2017.

Chief Health Officer John Gerrard is “very concerned” the dangerous vaping trend is worsening as health harms are widening to include adverse impact on mental health.

And Health Minister Shannon Fentiman has called the soaring numbers of young vapers as “shocking”.

The data, to be included in an update to the Chief Health Officer’s Report, shows 35.6 per cent of school students aged 12-17 had sampled e-cigarettes.

This is more than twice the rate recorded in 2017, when 15.5 per cent of the same age group stated they had tried vaping.

The trend was similar with young adults, with 45.3 per cent of Queenslanders aged 18-29 vaping in 2022, almost twice the rate reported in 2018 (23.5 per cent).

The smoking rate in 2023 dropped to 10.1 per cent, meaning the rates of Queensland adults who lit up daily had halved over the past 20 years.

Dr John Gerrard said he was very concerned at the new vaping data. Picture: John Gass

The rate of Australian school students aged 16-17 who smoked cigarettes in the past week has dropped to just 2.9 per cent – down from 29.8 per cent in 1996.

But new research shows that the young vapers of today are at high risk of being tobacco smokers of tomorrow.

To disrupt and prevent the supply of illegal smoking and vaping products, Queensland Health works with Queensland Police Service and federal agencies like the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and Border Force to enforce state and federal controls.

Last year Queensland Health also introduced a ‘There’s Nothing Sweet About Vapes’ campaign to specifically target young people on social media platforms, to highlight the harmful chemicals and health effects.

The Government is increasing funding to Quitline to $5.1 million each year to ensure tailored support can be provided to more people addicted to nicotine, including for young people.

Queensland Health and Education Queensland have also implemented a new ‘Pathways to Cessation’ program is promoting working in collaboration to develop and implement a pilot vaping/tobacco smoking cessation support program for secondary school students (aged 12-18) and supporting vaping cessation in Queensland secondary schools.

“The new vaping data is shocking and it’s why the Miles Government is taking strong action to protect Queenslanders from the harmful effects of e-cigarettes and tobacco products,” Ms Fentiman said.

“While it’s good news to see tobacco smoking has dropped, the rates of vaping among young Queenslanders are extremely concerning.”

Some of the colourful packaging that vapes come in. Picture: Getty Images

She said that the government was concerned that vapes were marketed towards young people with bright packaging flavours like blueberry and bubblegum.

“As a government, we are determined to crack down on these dangerous product suppliers who have no regard for the health of Queenslanders,” she said.

“That’s why we are progressing new vaping and tobacco legislation today that, if passed, will impose some of the harshest penalties in Australia for rogue retailers.”

Dr Gerrard warns the health risks linked to vaping are expanding and include damage to lungs, nicotine addiction and toxicity and increasing evidence of adverse effects on mental health.

“In young people, a key health concern about vaping is the risk it will lead to tobacco use. There is strong evidence that tobacco use is three times more likely for nonsmokers who vape.

“The high levels of nicotine in illegal vape products are of particular concern in young people given the critical period of brain development that occurs in adolescence,” he said

“Vaping can also lead to tobacco use. There is strong evidence that tobacco use is three times more likely for nonsmokers who vape.

“We need to take strong action to address this major public health problem. Stricter legislation is an important part of that response.”