Noosa addiction treatment expert says new vape ban not the answer

A Sunshine Coast addiction treatment expert says the vape laws will send the youth epidemic underground despite Queensland education bodies welcoming the measures.

Co founder and Director of private addiction treatment clinic Noosa Confidential Pettina Stanghon (pictured right) worries new vaping rules will not address a teen epidemic. Photo: John McCutcheon

The recent federal government decision to criminalise vaping has left Sunshine Coast parents sceptical of the changes with a Noosa addiction treatment expert calling the new measures “performative”.

The policies, which include banning the importation of nonprescription vaping products to combat a vaping epidemic among teenagers, is supported by the Queensland Department of Education.

“Given the significant health risks associated with the use of these products, the department welcomes any measures put in place to regulate the distribution and availability of vapes and e-cigarettes,” a department spokesperson said.

“This includes... stronger regulation and enforcement of all e-cigarettes, including new controls on their importation, contents and packaging.”

Vaping has become an epidemic among teenagers.

However, the director of a leading Noosa addiction treatment clinic believes the move to criminalise vaping will “push it into the black market”.

“Criminalising things doesn’t fix the problem in my opinion, whether it’s cocaine or heroin or vaping,” Noosa Confidential rehab clinic director and co founder Pettina Stanghon said.

“We know with studies done worldwide, Portugal being the biggest one, decriminalising all those things actually then created the capacity to regulate more and removed black market, which is just where this is going to head basically.”

Co founder and Director of private addiction treatment clinic Noosa Confidential Pettina Stanghon. Photo: John McCutcheon

Acknowledging vaping as a “terrible” addiction with a lack of long term studies into the health risks, Ms Stanghon says the new laws “make local councils and governments look like they’re trying to take a stand”.

“I think it will just heighten the kick that you get from vaping,” she said.

“Rules are not going to change behaviour, humans are creative, they will just find a way around.

“Every bit of evidence points to the fact that parents who are more rigid are going to have children that are good liars, compared to parents that are more collaborative are more likely to have transparency.”

Queensland Teachers’ Union president Cresta Richardson urged all members of the community to help solve the vaping epidemic.

Queensland Teachers’ Union president Cresta Richardson welcomes the changes to limit the supply of vaping products.

“We urge all members of our community to help keep vapes out of the hands of students,” she said.

Meanwhile Noosa parents are questioning the move.

There is concern criminalising vaping will push the industry underground. Picture: Gaye Gerard

A father of high school-aged children, who asked not to be named, believed teens would still access vapes online.

“You can’t smell them, so it’s like everything illegal, they’re still going to do it,” he said.

“What’s more effective is caring for them and good communication and if you’re 90 per cent there, I mean we’re not perfect, but I think that’s pretty good.”

Ms Stanghon also believes in a different “antidote”, with recent data from the Department of Education showing the increase in drug-related school disciplinary absences increased from 7514 in 2021 to 8654 in 2022 at state schools across Queensland.

“The antidote to kids vaping is greater connection and communication with mentors and schools and parents,” Ms Stanghon said.

“So for me it’s being more transparent and stopping the shame and judgment.”

Recreational vaping was banned by the Australian Government on Tuesday, 2 May, 2023 unless prescribed by a doctor in accordance with the Therapeutic Goods Administration ruling of 2021.