Students caught dealing vapes in schools

Students as young as 12 have been sprung puffing black market e-cigarettes on school grounds, with some teens also caught dealing them to their peers.

Teachers and families have once again raised the alarm over teens blatantly using and dealing illegal vaping products in the schoolyard.

The Herald Sun can reveal teens are turning to social media platforms including Facebook’s Marketplace to buy vaping products, with sellers pretending to sell “fruit” and “fruit platters” but instead listing several vaping products and flavours in a bid to hide from authorities.

It comes after the Herald Sun revealed elite schools were also conducting bathroom patrols and bag checks to flush out students vaping between classes.

It is illegal under state law for anyone to sell or supply nicotine-containing e-cigarettes, but individuals are able to import up to three months’ supply for their personal use with a prescription.

Several teachers told the Herald Sun the problem was still out of control in the schoolyard, with children as young as 12 vaping between classes.

“We’ve been trying to tell the students about the dangers of these products, but I don’t think the message is getting across,” one teacher said.

“It’s a craze that I think will eventually go away, but it’s concerning that we keep catching students with the vapes in the toilets and other areas of school.

“Parents and the school community are very concerned and we think social media platforms need to also step up and stamp these sellers out.”

Quit Victoria director Dr Sarah White said kids were buying the product in bulk on social media platforms and then onselling them on school grounds.

“Most of these products contain nicotine in them … very few parents know it’s actually illegal to possess these, it’s illegal for anyone to sell them,” Dr White said.

“The kids are telling us they enjoy the head rush from the vape and they’re becoming addicted to nicotine.

“What we’re seeing is local irritation and damage through the respiratory tract and that’s accumulation of exposure to the chemicals and also the nicotine … including long-term effects of the cardiovascular system.”

A Department of Education spokeswoman said smoking and vaping was banned in all educational facilities in Victoria including schools and within 4m of any entrance.

“Schools are legally required to display ‘No Smoking’ signs at all entrances,” she said. . Australian Medical Association president Dr Omar Khorshid said the AMA was very concerned about the uptake of e-cigarettes among young people in Australia.

“Young adults are the most likely age group to be attracted to e-cigarettes, with two thirds of current smokers and one in five nonsmokers aged 18-24 reporting having tried e-cigarettes in 2019,” he said.

“E-cigarette manufacturers are clearly targeting children and young people with their branding, packaging and flavours.

“E-cigarette use also exposes young people to particulate matter, which increases the risk of developing cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and have been linked to lung injuries and mouth and throat irritation.”

Facebook Australia head of communications Antonia Sanda said listings on Marketplace were governed by its commerce policies, which expressly prohibit the sale of tobacco products and paraphernalia including e-cigarettes.

Ms Sanda said the listings were being investigated and several had been removed.

“We’re constantly working to improve our enforcement and will take further action as appropriate.”