Qld kids as young as seven suspended and expelled for vaping

The equivalent of almost 10 kids a day – including kids as young as seven – are being removed from Queensland schools for being caught using illegal vapes.

Vapes confiscated by a high school principal in Queensland. Photo: Supplied

Children as young as seven were among the 187 Queensland primary school students suspended or expelled for vaping last year.

Those children were among the 1901 primary and high state school students punished for using the illicit products – the equivalent of almost 10 kids a day.

It comes despite bans which made the product illegal to sell in Queensland with experts and teachers warning the issue is “very much alive and well”.

The Griffith University Blurred Minds program rolled out in schools aims at educating kids about vapes and the serious dangers they pose.

Blurred Minds Chief workshop facilitator Dr James Durl said there had been “no real change” in the attitudes of young people in the wake of the ban.

“We have to remember, these were already illegal for young people,” he said.

The numbers of vape related suspensions and expulsions reduced from 5591 cases in 2023.

Minister for Education John-Paul Langbroek said the reduction in cases was encouraging.

“This shows the school-based programs and broader departmental response to this issue are having a positive effect,” he said.

“A child of any age possessing or using a vape or e-cigarette is a concern, which is why the Crisafulli Government have a zero-tolerance approach across Queensland state schools.

“I understand vaping is a serious issue, but we must also acknowledge the role addiction plays.”

Teacher’s Professional Association Queensland President Scott Stanford said educating young people was crucial.

“They’re (students) still going to have access to them. All these places are still selling them under the counter,” he said.

Mr Stanford said young kids accessing vapes was often a result of older siblings or parents leaving them laying around.

Australian Psychological Society President Dr Sara Quinn said vaping was linked to a range of underlying mental health challenges, including anxiety disorders, high stress, depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in adolescents.

“Parents need to be in a position to be able to support their child to quit by talking to them about it and helping them to develop a quit plan with them.”

Australian Medical Association Queensland (AMAQ) President Dr Nick Yim said for the ban to be effective, all levels of government needed to work together to keep illegal imports out.

“While it is too early to know the exact long-term health effects of vaping on lungs and brains, there is a lack of scientific evidence to support their safety, and significant evidence indicating the extreme risks they pose to children,” he said.

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Chair of Addiction Medicine special interest group Dr Hester Wilson said risks associated with vaping included catching fire to potentially inhaling melting plastic from the packaging itself.

“They’ll experience withdrawal symptoms including poor sleep, irritability, crankiness, poor concentration, getting more anxious and not being able to concentrate in school,” Dr Wilson said.

2024 VAPING INCIDENTS AS AT END OF YEAR:

Year 1 – 0

Year 2 – 1

Year 3 – 7

Year 4 – 24

Year 5 – 53

Year 6 – 102

Year 7 – 225

Year 8 – 369

Year 9 – 433

Year 10 – 388

Year 11 – 202

Year 12 – 97

Total: 1901

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Originally published as Qld kids as young as seven suspended and expelled for vaping