NHS’s warning to pupils as vaping ‘rife’ in Scots schools
Alarming report every parent should read ++ New health alert over children as young as 9
CHILDREN as young as eight will be taught about the dangers of vaping amid an alarming rise in the number of under-18s using e-cigarettes.
Pupils in P5 and P6 will learn about the dangers of addiction as experts warn of the latest public health menace facing young people.
E-cigarettes were initially hailed as a less harmful alternative for adults trying to quit smoking but there are increasing fears their use is now rife among teenagers.
The NHS wants to curb the soaring number of youngsters attracted by sweet flavours, colourful packaging and ‘pocket money prices’ – particularly for disposable vapes popular on social media.
Children as young as eight will be taught to ‘recognise the dangers of an e-cigarette’ and techniques for resisting peer pressure.
Trading standards officers are also preparing to crack down on vaping outlets selling illegally to children.
Sheila Duffy, chief executive of health charity ASH Scotland, said: ‘The recent huge upsurge in children across Scotland using disposable vapes is alarming. These products are not harmless and are agerestricted for good reason.
‘Nicotine is highly addictive and many vapes include toxic chemicals that have not been safety tested for inhalation and could damage health over time. This is especially worrying for children and young people.
‘Young people experimenting with vapes are also at a higher risk of using tobacco products.
‘With disposable vapes being sold at pocket money prices, and many youngsters who may be gambling away their future health through vaping, we owe it to coming generations to introduce protective measures.’
ASH’s youth survey of 2022 showed vaping has risen among 11-17 year olds from 4 per cent in 2020 to 7 per cent this year. Children who admitted to having tried it rose from 14 per cent in 2020 to 16 per cent in 2022.
Meanwhile, 52 per cent of youngsters who vape favoured disposable e-cigarettes – a big increase from the 7 per cent who said this in 2020.
The crackdown on vaping is being led by the NHS and councils in Ayrshire, although it is understood lessons in schools could be introduced across Scotland.
NHS Ayrshire and Arran’s recently published Joint Health Protection Plan 2022-24, drawn up with the three Ayrshire councils, reports more underage children are vaping.
It says: ‘Increasing popularity has seen a number of emerging issues. We are seeing a rise in complaints of underage sales, with the devices gaining popularity in secondary age children. The products are marketed towards children with choices of colours and flavours.’
Meanwhile, the board’s tobacco action plan for 2021-24 reveals moves to ‘provide school lesson plans for Primary 5 and Primary 6’.
Notes include a suggested letter home which says: ‘We will discuss the harmful effects of tobacco as well as strategies for avoiding unhealthy situations involving tobacco, exposure to second-hand smoke, e-cigarettes and techniques for resisting peer pressure.’
P5 pupils will be taught to ‘describe differences between a cigarette and an e-cigarette’ and to ‘recognise the dangers of a cigarette and an e-cigarette’. Pupils in P6 will ‘learn the term addiction and understand the types of addiction, gain knowledge about the consequences and signs of addiction, and learn about nicotine addiction and withdrawal’.
A spokesman for South Ayrshire Council said: ‘Previously, e-cigarettes were potentially seen as having a role in harm reduction versus smoking. However, the three local authorities were aware of anecdotal reports of teenagers moving to vaping. This was therefore included as a priority in the protection plan.
‘This means officers can examine the extent of the issue and look at a joined-up approach to tackling this.
‘Since April 2022 South Ayrshire Trading Standards has received complaints about the sale of tobacco and nicotine vapes to underage people. Trading Standards has also seen a rise in complaints about proxy sales where people of age buy agerestricted tobacco and nicotine vape products and pass them on to an underage person.’
‘Recent upsurge across Scotland is alarming’