Qld children as young as 10 are vape addicts

With revelations children as young as 10 are becoming addicts and students brazenly vaping in the middle of classes, health experts say the student vaping “explosion” was of huge concern.

Queensland children as young as 10 are vaping and fast becoming addicts, prompting the state government to implement new guidelines to help schools identify and support students dependent on nicotine.

Students predominantly in high schools are suffering from anxiety, agitation, mood swings and having difficulty concentrating.

It’s understood there are isolated issues among primary school students.

One Queensland teacher told The Courier-Mail they caught students vaping in the middle of a Year 8 English class.

“Cigarettes have always been around but once upon a time, kids had to at least hide it and sneak away for it. Now they just blatantly get the hit whenever they want, even in the middle of English class,” the teacher said.

“It scares me to think of the health crisis awaiting us.”

A number of students were suspended from Emmaus College Rockhampton after a video surfaced of students vaping in a toilet block.

Another Queensland teacher said she had young high school children coming to class with breathing difficulties because of vaping – a problem she said was widespread across all year levels.

“I’ll go into the bathroom and catch 10 girls vaping,” the teacher said.

“Years 7 through to 12, smoking daily. And getting out of class to do so.

“Then you have the kids who don’t vape but can’t go to the bathroom because so many kids are in there.”

A parliamentary inquiry into vaping found Queensland schools required assistance in supporting children addicted to nicotine, with students becoming “aggressive and jittery” in class.

The inquiry found Queensland schools required specific approaches to manage student addiction and support them in quitting the harmful e-cigarettes.

Australian Medical Association Queensland vice-president Dr Nick Yim said the student vaping “explosion” was of huge concern.

Australian Medical Association Queensland vice-president Dr Nick Yim.

The Hervey Bay GP works closely with schools and said vaping addiction had a major impact on a students mental health and subsequently their ability to learn.

“It’s hard to know the definition of addiction with children, but you have 10-year-olds, grade six starting to vape, some schools have kids aged 14 vaping every day, it’s very concerning,” Dr Yim said.

“A child dependent to nicotine will be anxious, angry, disrupting class and actively seeking out vapes.

“We need to educate those students and parents and treat it like any addiction. Seek a GP or offer them alternatives like patches, nicotine gum but under supervision.”

Queensland Secondary Principals Association president Mark Breckenridge said it was incredibly difficult for students who had a long term vaping addiction to break the habit.

Mr Breckenridge argued schools were doing everything in their power to assist children quit.

“Schools have gone to enormous efforts, but it’s not just schools, we need the community, everyone to be on board,” he said.

“Schools have reported students showing addictive behaviours, being jittery, the need for the next hit, which obviously has a negative impact on their health and wellbeing.

“It’s a very hard fix, very difficult to break.”

Queensland Secondary Principals Association president Mark Breckenridge. Picture: Josh Woning

One of the key recommendations in the inquiry called for the department of education to prepare guidelines around identifying and supporting students who are nicotine dependent.

A department of education spokesman said it would consult over the coming months on implementing the recommendations.

“Work has commenced to develop guidelines for schools about how to respond when a student is identified as having a substance dependence, including smoking, e-cigarettes and vaping,” a department spokeswoman said.

“We are committed to continuing to explore proactive approaches to addressing vaping.”

Vaping will also be implemented into the department’s strengthened drug and alcohol program which will be available to Queensland schools from next year.

Schools are also equipped with a range of specialist support staff, including guidance officers, psychologists, social workers and nurses to provide direct support to students.

“These staff are well-placed to support students who have a substance dependence, including referring students to external support services,” she said.

“Schools are well supported to take local approaches to tackle vaping which is a broad, complex public health issue that requires a focused community-wide response – the solutions don’t start and stop at school gates.”