Essential to protect young from vaping
Decisive action is needed on an escalating public health crisis, writes
As Tasmanians, we have a duty to safeguard the health and wellbeing of our young people. The impending debate on the Therapeutic Goods Vaping Reforms Bill 2024 is an opportunity for Tasmanian federal senators to take decisive action on the escalating public health crisis posed by the increasing use of vapes by young people.
The proposed legislation seeks to amend the Therapeutic Goods Act to prohibit the importation, domestic manufacture, supply, commercial possession and advertisement of non-therapeutic vapes, while ensuring prescription access to therapeutic vapes for smoking cessation.
This legislation can put an end to the ready availability of nontherapeutic vapes, which, alarmingly, are finding their way into the hands of our children. Vapes contain large amounts of nicotine, a highly toxic and addictive drug that is hooking a new generation.
Statistics paint a troubling picture: an exponential rise in vaping among young Tasmanians, with one in three (33 per cent) having vaped.
Non-smokers who vape are three times as likely to go on to smoke cigarettes. The consequences of nicotine addiction for young people are frightening, particularly the impact on teen brain development.
Quit Tasmania strongly supports the proposed reforms. Over the past decade, we have witnessed firsthand the rapid escalation of vaping uptake among young, nicotinenaive Tasmanians.
We have seen the devastating harm that these products are having on communities across Tasmania.
We know through our engagement with local schools, provision of support to Tasmanians via our Quitline counselling service, and analysis of data from the Australian Secondary Students’ Alcohol and Drug Survey, that addressing vaping is a top health priority.
The unanimous support of Australian health ministers for this groundbreaking legislation underscores its significance.
Now, it is imperative for our senators to follow suit and champion the wellbeing of future generations by passing the Bill.
As a professional with more than a decade of working in tobacco control and smoking cessation, as a public health researcher, and as a mother of two young children, I urge our senators to prioritise the health and safety of our children by supporting this legislation. We have a rapidly closing window of opportunity to act before it permanently slams shut.
For anyone wanting information and support for quitting smoking or vaping you can talk to a doctor or health professional, or contact us at Quit Tasmania via our website quittas.org.au or by calling the Tasmanian Quitline on 13 7848.
Abby Smith is director of Quit Tasmania and a public health researcher at the University of Sydney