

Similarly, only vape if it has been prescribed to you by a doctor to help you stop smoking. If you don’t want your child to vape or smoke, set a good example by not smoking yourself. who have certain temperaments including poor self-control, children who tend to rebel, or who are prone to sensation seeking and risk taking.īe a good role model by not vaping or smoking.with mental health or behavioural problems, and.

who experience depression, anxiety or emotional distress,.

Some groups of children are more at risk of smoking than others. Together, e-cigarette advertising and features give children the sense that they are fun, cool, lower risk and can be used to get around smokefree policies.

Some products make it easier for children to hide their vaping from their parents and teachers, such as attachments that reduce the aerosol, or e-cigarettes concealed in clothing, toys and smart watches. Child-friendly packaging that have cartoons or look like juice boxes, lollies or biscuits are common. While older forms of cigarette and e-cigarette advertising have been banned, children are increasingly exposed to cigarette and e-cigarette advertising and branding through the internet and social media, including Tik Tok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, among others.Į-cigarettes have a wide range of sweet flavours that appeal to children. to imitate actors, models or influencers in movies, video games or social media.the desire to appear more grown up and sophisticated.the wish to assert their growing independence.copying parents or older brothers or sisters who smoke.peer bonding and the desire to fit in with friends.Some of the reasons why your child may try e-cigarettes or cigarettes include: Both smoking and vaping (whether the e-cigarette contains nicotine or not) are harmful to health.Non-smoking children who vape nicotine are three times more likely than non-users to start smoking.In young people, vaping tends to lead to or reinforce smoking.Tobacco and many e-cigarettes contain nicotine, an addictive substance.There is a strong link between smoking and vaping for children because: What is the link between vaping and smoking? Australia National University’s e-cigarette infographic.Quit resources for parents and teachers about teen vaping External Link.Quit Victoria’s video: E-cigarettes and young people: what you need to know External Link.In Victoria, it is not legal for anyone to sell e-cigarettes, whether or not they contain nicotine, to a person aged under 18 years. However, testing shows that most e-cigarettes bought from shops or online in Australia contain nicotine and this is commonly not stated on the label. In Australia, you can only legally buy vaping products that contain nicotine with a doctor’s prescription. E-cigarettes may also be called vapes, JUULs, hookah-pens, or other names. The aerosol might or might not contain nicotine.Į-cigarettes come in many shapes and colours: they can look like cigarettes or cigars or other everyday items such as pens, memory sticks or highlighters. At least 20 of the chemicals found in e-cigarette aerosols have been shown to cause damage to the lungs or other organs. This aerosol contains many different chemicals. What is vaping?Īn e-cigarette is a battery-powered device that heats a liquid into an aerosol which is inhaled into the lungs. It is not always possible for parents to prevent their child from trying e-cigarettes or cigarettes, but the use of various strategies can reduce the likelihood of a child wanting to vape or smoke and doing so regularly. Whether your child chooses to vape or smoke regularly or not is influenced by a range of factors. However, children entering their teenage years are experimental, curious and vulnerable to peer pressure and online promotions. The best protection against addiction, illnesses and injuries is never to vape or smoke in the first place. Children who vape nicotine are much more likely to start smoking. People who smoke frequently become addicted to nicotine, and e-cigarettes that contain nicotine are also addictive. Explosions and fires from e-cigarette devices are also a risk. When people vape an e-cigarette, they inhale chemicals, heavy metals and fine particles, which poses risks to lung health and poisoning. When people smoke a cigarette, they inhale chemicals and fine particles, and this causes or contributes to a wide range of diseases including cancers, heart disease and emphysema. Experts are concerned that young people are experimenting with vaping at an even earlier age. The average age that young people in Australia start smoking is around 16 years.
