Why Geelong youths are hooked on vaping

Geelong youths hooked on vaping have lifted the lid on how they became addicted, amid concerns a new generation will be sucked in by nicotine.

Vaping in the mall.

Geelong youths hooked on vapes are being seduced by cheap prices and appealing flavours, as experts warn the issue has hit crisis point.

The Geelong Advertiser this week exposed a thriving trade where nicotine vapes – which are meant to be prescription only and sold at pharmacies – are being sold in local shops like convenience stores.

The sale of any e-cigarette product, with or without nicotine, to a person under the age of 18 is prohibited in Victoria.

But young people in Geelong told the Addy they were addicted to vaping due to the sweet and fruity flavours on offer.

Jane*, 15, said she was hooked on bongs – pipes used to smoke substances like tobacco or cannabis – for two years and took up vaping to try and cut the habit.

She said used nicotine vapes which were addictive because of the variety of sweet flavours available.

Penny*, 16, said she also chose to vape because she enjoyed the taste.

Sally*, 19, said there were dealers buying the devices in bulk to sell to younger people.

She said she used to be a dealer, but stopped when she saw the physical and emotional effects the habit had on her friends.

A menu of vape flavours at a Geelong shop.

“Some of my (teen) friends would die if they didn’t have a vape,” Sally said.

“They’re cheaper than smokes.”

Mary*, 23, started using nicotine vapes to quit smoking cigarettes because it was “so expensive”.

“I’ve replaced a habit with another habit, I guess,” she said.

Mary said she does not have a prescription to buy vapes, but said they are “really easy” to access at shops that only ask for ID.

“I buy a vape for $30 … with 3500 puffs and it lasts a week,” she said.

“Before, I would smoke a pack a day.”

On average, a pack of 25 cigarettes from a leading brand costs about $50, according to Smoke Free Clinic.

Mary said she had noticed the community viewing smoking as “yuck”, but vaping as okay because it didn’t smell bad.

“Vaping also has every flavour you could possibly imagine,” she said.

Mary said she saw children in school uniform vaping after school “all the time”.

“It’s usually in a group,” Mary said.

“It is concerning, because they’re so young.

“I feel like they do it because it’s seen as cool.”

Quit Victoria director Matthew Scanlon said e-cigarette companies were targeting children with bright packaging and sweet flavours like cola and fairy floss.

Vapes are even being disguised as highlighters, lipsticks and teddy bears to make then more appealing to young people.

“(It is) another manipulative tactic employed by an unscrupulous industry intent on addicting a new generation of Australians to nicotine,” he said.

“Sweet tasting e-liquids can make vaping more attractive and palatable to children.”

VicHealth chief executive Dr Sandro Demaio said kids were paying the price for Big Tobacco’s profits.

Dr Sandro Demaio. Picture: Supplied

“We are at a crisis point with a new generation at risk of becoming addicted to toxic products,” he said.

The federal government is considering responses to a Therapeutic Goods Administration consultation paper on potential reforms to regulation of nicotine vaping products.

VicHealth is calling for stopping the importation of all e-cigarette products unless bound for smokers with a prescription or pharmacy wholesalersand banning the supply of all e-cigarette products at the national level, regardless of whether they contain nicotine, except by pharmacies to smokers with a prescription.

It has urged the state government to take strong action against retailers selling vaping products to minors.

A government spokeswoman said it was working to address the sale of illicit tobacco.

Geelong schools say they are working to educate students about the dangers of vaping.

St Joseph’s College deputy principal Mark Kennedy said there had been an increase over the last few years of students vaping at the school.

“But since our vaping sensors have been installed we have reduced vaping in the toilets considerably,” Mr Kennedy said.

“Students don’t see vaping as terribly bad for them and other than the education the school is providing regarding health risks and legality, there does not seem to be much research and data on the effects yet.”

Mr Kennedy said the use of vaping was concerning for the school because of its easy access and minimal restrictions.

“Students usually try to vape in the toilets where there is no supervision which can be very intimidating for non-vapers and younger students,” he said.

“More of a widespread campaign about the harmful effects and more restrictions on selling and purchasing (should be used to deter vaping).”

The Geelong College deputy principal Simon Young said while there had not been an increase of vaping on school grounds, research suggested it had become “desensitised in the eyes of students” because of its prevalence and accessibility.

“The attitude of our students clearly fluctuates, however, it is clear that many still do not know (or choose to ignore) that they contain harmful substances such as nicotine, lead, and cancer-causing chemicals,” Mr Young said.

“Vaping is far more than the fad we hoped it might beso we must continue to fight the good fight and arm our students with the necessary toolkit in order to keep them safe.”

He said all schools in the Geelong area appeared to be doing “as much as they can” within their jurisdiction.

“However, the ease with which vaping instruments and paraphernalia can be obtained ensures that opportunity is never too far away,” he said.

“This, coupled with cunning social media marketing dictates that a community response is the only way to deter young people.”

Mr Young said it was a “tricky balance” for schools and that the main concern for Geelong College was the long-term effects of students’ developing brains.

“The combination of education and counselling, in conjunction with discipline, has proven to be the best method for our school,” he said.

An education department spokesman said smoking and vaping was banned in all schools in Victoria – along with being banned within four metres of any school entrance.

“The health and safety of students is always paramount, that’s why we work in partnership with organisations such as Quit and Cancer Council Victoria to provide resources for schools and families to help students better understand the health risks associated with vaping,” he said.

Local doctor and Western Victoria Primary Health Network clinical spokeswoman Anne Stephenson said anecdotally, GPs were seeing more patients worried about their use of vapes.

“People who vape need to know that nicotine is a poison, and a very addictive one,” she said.

“Vaping affects the heart and lungs, and increases a person’s risk of a variety of conditions such as high blood pressure and the likelihood of heart attack, stroke and angina.

“Like smoking, we believe the full health effects are likely to take some time to develop.”

Dr Stephenson said it was always possible to quit and there were support and resources available through the Quitline and your GP.

*Not their real names

Originally published as Why Geelong youths are hooked on vaping