Tassie education body wants ban on e-cigarette imports

Rates of vaping by Tassie students may soon ‘spiral out of control’ unless a ban on the importation of e-cigarettes is brought in, an education body has said. READ MORE >

Vaping by Tasmanian students will soon “spiral out of control” unless the importation of e-cigarettes is banned, parents say.

Tasmanian Association of State Schools president Natham Reynolds said it was a challenge for parents and teachers to monitor and control.

“If vaping is not controlled soon, it has the potential to spiral out of control,” he said.

“TASSO believes that the popularity of vaping among students is probably due to the sense of a ‘cool, rebellious image’ associated with it.

“Coupled with the fact that vaping is more affordable than smoking, more convenient and harder to detect, its increasing popularity is creating a challenge for educators to monitor and control.”

Vaping is an issue TASSO believes may soon begin to spiral out of control.

New Norfolk High School removed a majority of toilets, but reinstated them last weekend, amid reports it had done so to stop students smoking and vaping.

Mr Reynolds said vape detectors might deter students from certain areas of the school but were not effective in stopping vaping.

“We believe that punishment, such as suspension, is not an acceptable option, as it will only contribute to an already increasing suspension rate.

“The only real way to control vaping and protect the health of our students is to change the legislation, ban e-cigarettes, cease the importation of such devices and revisit the T21 policy.”

One big Tasmanian school contacted parents late last year to warn them about vaping.

“Over the past year we have noticed an increase in the use of e-cigarettes, commonly known as vapes, at Taroona High School,” the letter said.

“This is a national problem exacerbated by the apparent ease of access and high intensity marketing, particularly on social media.

The purpose of this letter is to inform you about the issue and to provide you with the tools to start the discussion about vaping with your young person.”

Quit Tasmania director Abby Smith said new Tasmanian student vaping data was due this year but evidence from other states showed about one in three young people aged 14-17 have used e-cigarettes.

Quit Tasmania director Abby Smith said one in three young people aged 14-17 had used e-cigarettes.

“Vaping is becoming increasingly normalised in Tasmanian schools,” she said.

“Unfortunately this isn’t a problem that we can educate our way out of, and we can’t push blame on kids, or pressure on parents and teachers.

“The only way to stop this public health crisis is with stronger regulatory action and better enforcement from all levels of government.”

Ms Smith said e-cigarette products can contain hundreds of toxic chemicals, like those found in cleaning products and weed killer “that young people are inhaling deep into their lungs”.

“Many e-cigarettes that claim to be nicotine-free, actually contain nicotine with some containing the same amount as multiple packs of cigarettes.

“We also know that non-smokers who use e-cigarettes are three times more likely to start smoking tobacco.

“A recent Centre for Behavioural Research Report showed that almost 9 in 10 Australians supported government action to stop a new generation becoming addicted to nicotine.”

Tasmanian Small Business Council chief Robert Mallett says it is an “absolute problem” if children under 18 were vaping or smoking.

Health Consumers Tasmania CEO Bruce Levett and academic Dr Kathryn Barnsley also want a ban on internet e-cigarette sales.

Tasmanian Small Business Council chief Robert Mallett says it is an “absolute problem” if children under 18 were vaping or smoking.

“This is not the fault of retailers but families and older friends who are buying it for them,” he said.

Mr Mallett said there was evidence “nicotine vaping and nicotine e-cigarettes were effective harm reduction and smoking cessation aids”.

“This includes Public Health England who has found them to be 95 per cent less harmful than cigarettes,” he said.

“Why would the Therapeutic Goods Administration allow vapes to be sold through chemists if they were harmful?”

“There is also significant evidence that nicotine e-cigarettes are a driver of smoking cessation.”

Originally published as Tassie education body wants ban on e-cigarette imports