Quit says 600 per cent rise in young Aussies vaping and smoking tobacco

New figures have revealed a 600 per cent increase in young Australians smoking both cigarettes and using vapes as new campaigns are launched to help Aussies quit.

New figures have revealed a staggering 600 per cent increase in young Australians both smoking tobacco and using e-cigarettes in just four years.

It comes as the Federal Health Minister Mark Butler announced this week he will bring forward the introduction of the toughest vape laws in the world.

Launching initiatives to help people stop, Quit says the biggest rise of “dual users” continues to be in young people aged between 18-24 years.

Quit lays much of the blame at what it calls the “manipulative tactics” of the tobacco industry.

The number of “dual users” has increased by 600 per cent in Australians aged between 18-24 years. iStock image.

Recently Quit launched a motivational campaign called ‘The Con that kills’.

It says this highlights the deceptive strategies of the tobacco industry to “hook and keep” people smoking.

The campaign sets out to dispel the myths it claims tobacco companies use to manipulate products.

This includes making toxic smoke in tobacco products feel less harsh and harmful.

It also flags menthol as one of the additives used to mask the harshness of cigarettes while rollie tobacco is manipulated to make people think it is “natural and fresh” when it’s no less harmful.

Tiny holes in cigarette filters, Quit says as part of the campaign, mix air into the smoke to make the toxic smoke feel lighter.

Quit says most people who vape are not doing it to quit smoking. Image: iStock

Quit has analysed data from a report released this year for the Australian Health Department by Cancer Council Victoria.

The report, Current vaping and smoking in the Australian Population aged 14 years or older, showed a significant jump in people who vaped, but these new figures highlight just how many are dual-using cigarettes and vapes.

Quit director Rachael Andersen says the figures also suggest most people who vape are not doing it to quit smoking.

In a statement she said the rising rates of young Australians smoking had been driven largely by big increases in vaping.

Quit says it is “deeply concerned” by the staggering increasing in youth vaping. Picture: Gaye Gerard

“We are deeply concerned by the staggering increase in youth vaping and the rise in dual use of tobacco and e-cigarettes, especially when we know that nicotine is one of the most addictive drugs,” she said.

“These new Quit campaigns will educate people about the manipulative tactics used by the tobacco industry to hook them on nicotine.

“And importantly, the campaigns will help support people who smoke or vape to quit. We want to ensure all Australians see the big tobacco industry for what it is – predatory and out to profit from tobacco sales, at the cost of more than 20,000 Australian lives each year.”

VicHealth’s Bonnie Matheson said brains are still developing until the age of 25.

“So teens and young adults are especially vulnerable to nicotine addiction,” she said.

On Tuesday Mr Butler told the ABC that a scheme will be phased in within weeks that would include import bans on disposable vapes containing nicotine.

Where to get support

• quit.org.au or call Quitline on 13 7848. There are also Aboriginal Quitline counsellors for mob and a range of translation services.

• Speak to your GP

• Visit: theconthatkills.org.au