Students could be banned from attending graduations and balls under a major crackdown by the WA government aimed at snuffing out vaping in schools.
Authorities have been under serious pressure to curtail the growing number of young people using e-cigarettes, with data suggesting one in three Australian teens between 14 and 17 years have tried them.
The alarm bells are also ringing over the “gateway” nature of the battery-powered devices, with children who vape found to be three times as likely to take up cigarette smoking.
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Under the state government’s new measures, announced on Tuesday, a student found in possession of a vape risks losing their “good standing”, meaning they will be unable to attend school balls, graduations and other extracurricular activities including camps.
“The prevalence of vapes in our community is a serious issue,” WA Education Minister Tony Buti said.
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“The biggest misunderstanding is they are harmless compared to cigarettes — this is not true.
“Vapes are not safe and they are contributing to a new generation of nicotine dependency.”
The devices come in many different forms and vapers are able to choose from a range of different flavours.
‘Dangerous products’
Health experts say some vape products, once marketed as a way for smokers to kick their nicotine habit, have the equivalent nicotine of hundreds of cigarettes, while many chemicals found in the aerosols have been shown to damage lungs and other organs.
In a bid to turn young people away from them, the WA government will also introduce mandatory programs for Year 5 to 7 students highlighting the dangers of vaping before they head into high school.
There will also be new resources for teachers, a letter sent to all parents from the minister, and an expanded trial of vape detectors in WA schools.
The government has also poured $375,000 into helping the Cancer Council develop a new digital campaign.
“We are confident these new measures, alongside other initiatives across government, will help to reduce the impact these dangerous products are having on our community, particularly our children and young people,” Buti said.
WA’s chief pharmacist Meeghan Clay during a press conference earlier this year to show off a record vape seizure. Credit: 7NEWS
Currently, Australians have to have a prescription to legally buy nicotine vaping products.
However consumers are finding it easy to pick one up even without a doctor’s sign-off.
Earlier this year, one of the country’s top tobacco control experts called for a total ban on the sale of vape products, arguing only pharmacies should have the right to sell them.
In June, WA authorities revealed a record seizure of 17,000 illegal electronic cigarettes worth a staggering $1 million.
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