Stop Children Vaping

25 September 2023

How do we stop children vaping? We know that vaping is preferred to smoking in the case of adults trying to stop smoking. But the rate of children vaping has steadily increased to the point where reported figures indicate that 10 per cent of Year Eight pupils and nearly one in three Year Ten pupils have tried e-cigarettes.  How can we stop it?

1. Make vapes harder to get hold of. The Government say the following in their blog: How we’re cutting smoking and stopping children vaping – Department of Health and Social Care Media Centre (blog.gov.uk)
2. Look at using Vape Detectors to find underage vapers and actively engage with the individuals to re-educate and support them making more positive lifestyle choices. Click for more info
3. Report retailers selling vapes to children to Trading Standards
4. Lobby your MP to Encourage the ban on single use vapes and push for the use of prescription only vapes, like that in place in Australia.

Vape detectors are great in the effective targeting and re-education of children. By detecting vapers and alerting a member of staff via a PUSH notification or text. Children vaping can be identified and supported to make better decisions for their health. Conversations will often lead to identifying other potential problem areas in children’s lives, such as bulling and peer pressure. Experienced compassionate handling can result in positive outcomes for those affected.

FRANK is a useful resource for parents and teachers. It gives facts about the risks of drugs, smoking and vaping. https://www.talktofrank.com/drug/vapes#the-risks  The NHS also has information https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/vaping-to-quit-smoking/young-people-and-vaping

Report illegal traders

Report retailers selling Vapes to children to Trading Standards. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/get-more-help/report-to-trading-standards/

It is against the law to sell vapes to children.

 

Lobby your MP.

MPs are elected to represent us. If you want a law changed or action taken in Parliament to address children vaping, you can write to your MP. You MP should take the matter seriously and the more of that demand action, means they are more likely to get on and do something about it!

Many MPs are already pushing for actions:

Helen Hayes, Labour MP and the shadow minister for children says:

 

Without action “we can expect a pipeline of young people becoming addicted to vaping, which may stay with some of them for the rest of their lives”, she warned.

The ban on cigarette advertising, branding and shop displays has dramatically reduced tobacco sales and smoking rates among children.

Arguing for similar restrictions on vapes, Ms Hayes said it was not necessary to use brightly-coloured branding to market a smoking cessation product.

And although vapes were far less harmful than cigarettes, she told MPs they were not “harmless”, with 40 children admitted to hospital last year with suspected vaping-related disorders.

 

Dr. Caroline Johnson, Tory MP for Sleaford and North Hykeham, warned that a vaping related “new national health crisis is brewing under our noses”.

Read the full story here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-66716509

What the NHS says about children vaping

Facts to tell young people about vaping:

• Vaping is a way for adults to stop smoking – not something for non-smokers, especially children and young people to try.
• Vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking but that does not mean it is harmless.
• Vaping exposes users to some toxins, and we do not yet know what the risks might be in the longer term.
• Most vapes contain nicotine, which is an addictive substance that can be hard to stop using once you have started.
• Nicotine is more risky for young people than for adults, as evidence suggests the developing brain is more sensitive to its addictive effects.
• In the UK, it is against the law to sell nicotine vaping products to under-18s or for adults to buy them on their behalf.
• Some disposable vapes on sale are illegal and do not meet UK safety regulations. They can contain high levels of harmful substances.
• Link to article https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/vaping-to-quit-smoking/young-people-and-vaping/

Do Vape Detectors work?

YES! Vape detectors are used widely in schools in the US. They have proved to be very effective in the fight against vaping, smoking and even bullying. You can read more about how they are used and the stories of the schools using them here Vape Detection Machine – Stop Vaping In Schools (parker-bell.co.uk)

To discuss how Vape Detectors might benefit your school or business, feel free to call us on 01392 364933 or email sales@parker-bell.co.uk.