As the severity of the issue in the state becomes clear, kids in Victoria are being handed e-cigarettes, and some are phoning Quitline because they are addicted.
In an attempt to mitigate the negative impacts of the practice, Victoria has implemented a new education programme aimed at reducing vaping among students in grades 7 through 10.
VicHealth CEO Dr Sandro Demaio stated that the issue was widespread among school-age children who were contacting addiction services for assistance, and the government aimed to both discourage the uptake of the problem and assist younger Victorians who are struggling with addiction.
According to Demaio, this is one of the most important health challenges of our day.
It is estimated that approximately thirty percent of youngsters have used e-cigarettes, and the percentage has grown quickly in a short amount of time.
New written resources have been made available by health authorities to support educators and students.
This is the next phase of the state’s ongoing effort to combat consumption rates, Seeing Through the Haze.
The purpose of the programme is to reveal the components that give vaping devices their life and to highlight the negative impacts of vaping.
It was stated that over 200 compounds were found in e-liquids during testing, supporting the idea that e-cigarettes contain toxic chemicals similar to those found in paint thinner, bug repellent, and biofuel.
It coincides with the implementation of a prohibition on the importation of single-use vapes on January 1st, and the imposition of a prescription-only purchase ban on them outside of pharmacies starting in March.
The director of Quit, Rachael Andersen, said that many disadvantaged Victorians would benefit from the new tools.
According to Andersen, the goal of these tools is to empower educators in a variety of contexts and to motivate them to engage candid and open discussions in the classroom.
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