Principals sound alarm as students take up vaping, become black market 'dealers'

Principals across Sydney have written to parents warning them of a significant increase in vaping among teenagers, with teachers catching students as young as year 7 using vapes at school or even becoming dealers.

Burwood Girls, Willoughby Girls, Conservatorium High School and independent Catholic school St Scholastica's in Glebe are among the schools that have sent letters to parents in recent weeks.

Last month a student vaping in the bathroom at Willoughby Girls set off an automatic fire alarm, resulting in firefighters attending the scene and prompting a stern letter to year 7 parents from principal Elizabeth Diprose. "Students have been told to immediately stop any involvement they may have in vaping," she wrote.

NSW Secondary Principals' Council president Craig Petersen said vaping was now a major issue for schools. "It seems to have become a real thing this year - it started coming on to our radars about halfway through term one this year … a few weeks before lockdown," he told The Sun-Herald.

Principals report that teenagers travel several kilometres to find retailers willing to sell to them under the counter and then become "dealers" in the high school "black market".

Vaping refers to the use of battery-operated devices that heat a liquid to be inhaled. Australian adults can buy vaping devices and non-nicotine "juices" with flavours such as fruit and chocolate, but nicotine juices are sold only with prescription. Many vapers order refills from retailers in New Zealand or China. Some vapes are designed to look like pens or USB thumb drives.

The issue has become politically fraught, with federal Health Minister Greg Hunt delaying by six months his plan to ban imports of nicotine electronic-cigarettes and refills, under pressure from lobbyists and 28 Coalition MPs who signed a letter condemning the proposed restrictions.

The health effects of vaping are hotly contested. The Australian Medical Association and other health bodies supported Mr Hunt's ban, while advocates say it is less harmful than smoking and nicotine vapes can help smokers quit.

Schools have issued letters to parents warning that vaping is on the rise among their students.Credit: Edwina Pickles

In a letter to parents, Burwood Girls warned the design and flavours of the products appealed to teenagers and had led to their "rapid uptake amongst high school students". The school's wellbeing team will deliver educational sessions about vaping in Term 3 using resources from the Education Department and external agencies.

St Scholastica's assistant principal Jen Petschler showed parents examples of "ice cola" and "blue razz" disposable vapes that had been handed in at the school, and urged parents to discuss the issue with their daughters.

Ms Diprose told Willoughby Girls parents the fire brigade callout would cost the school $1500 to $5000, "which we can ill afford".

Mr Petersen said the designs and flavours of vaping devices seemed to be a "deliberate ploy to hook kids". The fact the devices could be disguised and did not create plumes of smoke meant increasing numbers of students were using them in the classroom, he said.

"They’re not just down the back of the bike shed at recess, they're in class snacking on these nicotine devices quite discreetly and the teachers are not picking it up," Mr Petersen said.

"If the teacher identifies that's what's happening, this is how kids get suspended. This sort of thing really impacts on teaching and learning because it becomes a distraction in the classroom."

Mr Petersen had heard from principals on the Central Coast, northern beaches and in the Ryde area in the past week. "Up on the Central Coast, it seems to be more the seniors, but some of the schools in Sydney are reporting it's really popular with year 8," he said.

Drug and alcohol educator Paul Dillon said some students found ways to import nicotine vapes and refills in large quantities and could earn thousands of dollars by selling them to their friends.

Lisa Alonso Love, relieving deputy secretary for educational services at the NSW Department of Education, said vapes and e-cigarettes were banned in schools and treated the same as tobacco. "We support schools communicating with parents about this issue," she said.

Mr Dillon, the director of Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia, presents at about 200 schools around Australia every year. Previously he focused on alcohol in year 10, included cannabis in year 11 and widened out to other drugs in year 12 but every school was now asking him to cover vaping for all age groups.

"Because of a dramatic shift in the last six to 12 months, I've added vaping to every single one of my talks," Mr Dillon said. "It doesn't matter what school you go to, independent, public or Catholic, vaping is happening and it's happening in quite a big way."

Mr Dillon said flavoured non-nicotine vaping was most popular among teens, but nicotine was close behind, followed by THC (the active ingredient in cannabis).

Sometimes the students did not refer to it as vaping - for example, teenage girls were more likely to say they were "Juuling". Juul products look like coloured USB thumb drives and all contain a large dose of nicotine.

A study last year found social media marketing globally was pushing non-smokers to take up vaping.