Smoke clears on the harm caused by vaping

BASS Coast College is striving to tackle the issue of vaping which is becoming more common among school students. 

This comes as the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) recently delivered their 2022 CEO Statement, which states that vapour from e-cigarettes can be harmful. 

According to NHMRC, the scientific evidence has broken it down demonstrating that in addition to nicotine, more than 200 chemicals have been associated with the e-liquids, and they are not proven safe and effective as smoking cessation aids.

“The design and technology behind e-cigarettes continue to evolve but the method is the same – e-cigarettes deliver harmful substances direct to the lungs,” NHMRC CEO Professor Anne Kelso AO said.

“If you have never used e-cigarettes, don’t start – the evidence shows there is a possibility you will go on to smoke tobacco cigarettes.”

However, the question remains how do you tackle a growing issue of young people turning to vaping?

Bass Coast College’s Wonthaggi Campus Principle, Ross Bramley, is tackling that exact question alongside his colleagues head on.
“It is a growing societal problem,” Ross said.

“It's deliberately targeted at young people – it's targeted at trying to addict them.

“The flavours are aimed at young people, to get them to regularly use something quick and easy that gives them a nicotine hit. 

“That's where the major issue is at, they don't have to go somewhere like with a cigarette and lighter.

“I see it down the street, I see it at shopping centres, I see it everywhere I go, people are keeping them in their sleeve, and they can just take a little puff anytime they feel like it.

“To me that's a concern, because they're getting a little nicotine fix over time.”

And Ross is not alone, as vaping becomes a huge societal issue, every school is facing the same challenge ahead.

“It doesn’t matter what sort of school you are, what sort of programs you have applied, it is a challenge for all schools at the moment.

“Bass Coast College is committed to protecting the health and wellbeing of our kids and what worries me in particular, is that the long-term effects of vaping are still relatively unknown.

“At the senior campus, what we've been doing is treating the issue seriously – we've had multiple educational pieces for students.

“It's something that we all have to acknowledge is happening and we need to acknowledge that we're part of the solution.”

At a state government level, the Liberals and Nationals are keen to immediately crack down on the selling of e-cigarettes from Victorian retailers and individuals to children through increased policing, with a heavy focus on preventing children and adolescents from e-cigarette purchase and use.