Doctors report seeing vape-addicted teens in mass numbers

With the new ban on disposable vapes in Australia kicking in, doctors are reporting that young teens are now facing the consequences of their habit.

Medics are treating a growing flux of teenagers with vape addictions.

Medics are treating a growing ­influx of teenagers with vape ­addictions and experts warn the number will rise following the banning of importation of disposable vapes this week.

Teenagers are increasingly seeking help for insomnia, restlessness and other nicotine withdrawal symptoms as a result of vaping, doctors report.

Following the importation ban from January 1, the only way to obtain vapes is through a prescription from a registered medical practitioner.

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners vice-president Michael Clements said the reality of vape health dangers had begun to hit teenagers.

Royal Australian College of General Practioners’ vice-president Michael Clements. Picture: Supplied

“Yesterday I had a teenager come into my practice and we talked about vaping, because he’d been vaping and he thought it was safe, he thought it was something that was cool and trendy,” Professor Clements said. “He liked the way it made him feel and he liked the way it tasted.”

It was only after the ban was implemented that the teenager stopped and soon experienced the reality of his addiction, ­Professor Clements said.

“He said ‘I couldn’t sleep. I was fidgety, I was restless, I felt like at 2am I needed to get up and have another one (vape). And during the day, I just felt really itchy and I really wanted one.

“He was a person feeding himself nicotine because he thought that [vaping] was harmless and didn’t understand the impact [it] had on his body.”

Clinical psychologist Leila Gray said she had seen an increase in people coming into her clinic seeking help with a vaping addiction.

Clinical psychologist Leila Gray. Picture: Supplied

“We’ve had young people come in to address their addiction since the ban,” Dr Gray said.

“I think we’ll continue to see those numbers rise and I hope they do.

“That way, we can ensure they get the proper help they need to curb this addiction.”

Health experts are optimistic that growing rates of nicotine ­dependency in young Australians would turn the corner and decline.

Doctor Vincent Candrawinata said action against vapes “should have been done much earlier”.

Dr Vincent Candrawinata. Picture: Supplied

“The reasons they got into it were peer pressure and because it [vaping] was seen as the softer, safer, lower risk for smoking.

“Only when the news and journalists shone light onto the danger of vaping, it became very clear to parents and kids that it’s not a healthier option.”