Latest news with #GenerationVape
Perth Now
2 hours ago
- Health
- Perth Now
Vaping cartoon aims to prevent generation of addiction
A cartoon story of a teen coming face-to-face with a vape will be rolled out across schools nationally, which researchers say can stop the next generation of addiction. Anti-vaping program OurFutures has been approved for the national curriculum until 2028, involving an interactive cartoon co-designed by students and teachers telling early teens about the effects of vaping and how to refuse one. Those who received the cartoon education were less likely to vape compared to those with a standard health education on the issue, according to a trial by the University of Sydney's Matilda Centre. OurFutures is aimed at students in years 7 and 8, with the trial finding them 65 per cent less likely to vape or start vaping in the following 12 months. "Education, prevention, demand reduction is a critical part of our vaping strategy, we've also been online supporting influencers to promote positive messages about vaping or healthy messages about vaping online," Health Minister Mark Butler told reporters in announcing government approval for the program on Tuesday. The Matilda Centre's Lauren Gardner said the average onset age for vaping is 14, and harmful patterns can be prevented by targeting the age group. The characters are also teens as students are more likely to accept "peer-to-peer" messaging than from authority figures such as teachers or police. "It allows them to immerse themselves in that story and think 'OK, if one of my peers can do it this way, this is how I can apply it in my own way'," Dr Gardner said. The rollout comes as the government continues cracking down on the regulated substance, with vapes only able to be legally purchased from pharmacies. Almost $500 billion worth of illicit vapes have been seized at the border since January 2024, but vape shops and tobacconists are leading a rise in black market sales according to a report by research project Generation Vape. Mr Butler said while that remains an issue, it is more expensive to buy a vape now than previously. Since tighter laws on the flavoured-air substances came into effect in July 2024, smoking rates have increased and vaping rates have only slightly decreased among adults, data from Roy Morgan has shown.
9 News
2 hours ago
- Health
- 9 News
Government denies shock smoking claim after vape ban
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here The federal government has rejected research that claims smoking increased among young people after vape sales were banned last year. The report noted that the legislation, passed in phases in July 2024, has demonstrably "failed to reduce overall rates of smoking and vaping". The federal government has rejected research that claims smoking increased among young people after vape sales were banned last year. (Nine) It also reported overall rates of smoking and vaping in Australia are higher now than during the second half of last year. Federal Health Minister Mark Butler today refuted the report's findings and said government-led research showed that "fewer young people are vaping and fewer young people are smoking". "I, along with everyone else, was concerned about the risk that if we shut down access to vapes, that there might be a squeezed balloon effect that resulted in young people taking up smoking cigarettes in greater numbers," Butler said. "The research I've seen from Gen Vape and from the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute indicates that's not the case." Butler said he had a "couple issues" with the Roy Morgan research released on July 1, including the fact that some of the period of research pre-dated the vape reforms. He also said it canvassed a different age cohort than the federal government's Generation Vape project, which was released alongside the Cancer Council. The Saturday Paper reported last week that an earlier version of the Roy Morgan research was "scrubbed" from the internet and a report without explicit references to government "failure" was published. Roy Morgan later restored the original version of the research. "Like much research, this press release on smoking and vaping has raised more questions than it answered," a disclaimer noted. Health Minister Mark Butler during a press conference on vaping at Parliament House in Canberra. (Dominic Lorrimer) "Roy Morgan has subsequently undertaken further analysis, which provides the historical context and more detailed data on the use of different and combined products, including illicit tobacco. "In light of this, and in the interest of transparency, below is the initial release, which includes data from 12 months to January 2024 through to 12 months to May 2025. "We have updated the charts in this release with the illicit tobacco data and removed the highlight of dates on the data figures. We have also updated the labelling of figures to reflect the full-time frame for each data point." Butler said the government did not intervene with the Roy Morgan research. The federal government today spruiked the results of its school-based OurFutures Vaping Prevention Education Program, which Butler said demonstrated "real-world outcomes in preventing youth vaping". It involved more than 5000 students at 40 schools. "Research here in Australia was showing that high school students who vaped were about five times as likely to take up smoking," Butler said. "Terrifyingly, 12-year-olds who vaped, and there was a fair number of them, were 29 times more likely to take up cigarette smoking than 12-year-olds who did not vape." Year nine student Nick told media today that the program helped him understand "the impact of vapes on our bodies and our emotional state". "I've seen a lot more about how it impacts those around you, not just yourself," Nick said. The program's findings were published in medical journal The Lancet and reported students who took part were 65 per cent less likely to have used vapes after 12 months compared to those who didn't do the course. Another 80 per cent of students said the course will help them handle vaping situations in the future. The OurFutures program will be rolled out across Australian schools until 2028. More solid findings are expected to be released next year. federal politics Vaping smoking Australia national Politics health CONTACT US Auto news: Why Australians are still driving around without insurance.
The Advertiser
22-07-2025
- Health
- The Advertiser
Vaping attitudes changing, but addiction lingers for some
Ben, not his real name, did not think that trying a vape as a teenager would lead to years of fighting a nicotine addiction. "I wish I'd never had nicotine, it's like a door and once you open it, you can't close it. It's always in the back of your mind," Ben, now aged 20, said. The university student said he was never warned about the health impacts of e-cigarettes, which Cancer Council ACT says include delayed brain development, seizures, poisoning, insomnia and mood changes. University of Sydney research, funded by Cancer Council, said while vaping increased rapidly among young people from 2019, that trend may be slowing or even reversing. The federal government banned the import of disposable vapes in 2024. It is only legal to buy low-dose nicotine e-cigarettes from a pharmacy. Cancer Council ACT said, "data from the ACT General Health Survey tells us that around two-thirds of young people have tried vaping, but over one in three are either not taking it up, or have already quit". While vapes are still sold illegally by many Canberra shopfronts, including tobacconists, bottle shops, convenience stores, petrol stations and news agencies, their reputation among young people may be changing. "Vapes have a bad rep," Ben said. "There's a big stereotype on people who use vapes that you're weird or that you're childish." Generation Vape study lead author Associate Professor Becky Freeman said most young Australians have never used nicotine products. "We're increasingly hearing young people saying that they're embarrassed that they vape, they don't want to be vaping, and the realities of addiction are beginning to rear their heads," Dr Freeman said. Health authorities are concerned that e-cigarettes are a gateway to tobacco. Ben said people switch from vapes to cigarettes because they have to smoke them less frequently. A July 2025 Generation Vape report said fewer Australian teens, aged 14 to 17, were smoking. Only 6 per cent had tried a cigarette. Now Ben and his mates have ditched vapes in favour of nicotine pouches, also referred to as Zyns (a popular brand) or upperdeckies. They are similar to snus, but do not contain tobacco and come in flavours like cherry, mint, citrus, coffee and cola. "It was a lot better for me because there was no smoke involved, it was just nicotine," Ben said. "It's the cheaper and safest way." Cancer Council said 950 per cent more pouches were seized at the Australian border in 2023 than in the previous two years. "Nicotine pouches usually contain very high levels of nicotine. Alongside damage to the mouth, they are mostly linked to the symptoms of excessive nicotine use," Cancer Council ACT said. "For young people, nicotine changes the way the brain matures, and can affect learning, memory, and attention long term, as well as making young people more susceptible to other drugs of addiction later in life." Dr Freeman claimed the pouches were another marketing ploy by Big Tobacco to addict young people. "There is no evidence that pouches are an effective way to quit smoking or vaping. We do have lots of other evidence-based ways to help people quit," she said. Ben said he has about eight 20mg pouches a day, which is eight times stronger than the strongest vape bought legally and without a prescription. Only 2 per cent of 14 to 17-year-olds surveyed for the latest Generation Vape report said they had tried a pouch. Ben, who graduated in 2023, wishes the private high school he attended in the ACT had taught him that vaping, not just smoking cigarettes, was unhealthy. "They didn't advocate against it," he said. "They just said, 'If you do it and we catch you, you're f---ed, don't do it at school'. There was no message about health." Cancer Council ACT said their research suggested smoking and vaping education was a bigger focus for Canberra schools in 2025 than in 2023. The Association of Independent Schools of the ACT said education around alcohol and other drugs is a key part of the Australian curriculum, which all schools follow. Ben, not his real name, did not think that trying a vape as a teenager would lead to years of fighting a nicotine addiction. "I wish I'd never had nicotine, it's like a door and once you open it, you can't close it. It's always in the back of your mind," Ben, now aged 20, said. The university student said he was never warned about the health impacts of e-cigarettes, which Cancer Council ACT says include delayed brain development, seizures, poisoning, insomnia and mood changes. University of Sydney research, funded by Cancer Council, said while vaping increased rapidly among young people from 2019, that trend may be slowing or even reversing. The federal government banned the import of disposable vapes in 2024. It is only legal to buy low-dose nicotine e-cigarettes from a pharmacy. Cancer Council ACT said, "data from the ACT General Health Survey tells us that around two-thirds of young people have tried vaping, but over one in three are either not taking it up, or have already quit". While vapes are still sold illegally by many Canberra shopfronts, including tobacconists, bottle shops, convenience stores, petrol stations and news agencies, their reputation among young people may be changing. "Vapes have a bad rep," Ben said. "There's a big stereotype on people who use vapes that you're weird or that you're childish." Generation Vape study lead author Associate Professor Becky Freeman said most young Australians have never used nicotine products. "We're increasingly hearing young people saying that they're embarrassed that they vape, they don't want to be vaping, and the realities of addiction are beginning to rear their heads," Dr Freeman said. Health authorities are concerned that e-cigarettes are a gateway to tobacco. Ben said people switch from vapes to cigarettes because they have to smoke them less frequently. A July 2025 Generation Vape report said fewer Australian teens, aged 14 to 17, were smoking. Only 6 per cent had tried a cigarette. Now Ben and his mates have ditched vapes in favour of nicotine pouches, also referred to as Zyns (a popular brand) or upperdeckies. They are similar to snus, but do not contain tobacco and come in flavours like cherry, mint, citrus, coffee and cola. "It was a lot better for me because there was no smoke involved, it was just nicotine," Ben said. "It's the cheaper and safest way." Cancer Council said 950 per cent more pouches were seized at the Australian border in 2023 than in the previous two years. "Nicotine pouches usually contain very high levels of nicotine. Alongside damage to the mouth, they are mostly linked to the symptoms of excessive nicotine use," Cancer Council ACT said. "For young people, nicotine changes the way the brain matures, and can affect learning, memory, and attention long term, as well as making young people more susceptible to other drugs of addiction later in life." Dr Freeman claimed the pouches were another marketing ploy by Big Tobacco to addict young people. "There is no evidence that pouches are an effective way to quit smoking or vaping. We do have lots of other evidence-based ways to help people quit," she said. Ben said he has about eight 20mg pouches a day, which is eight times stronger than the strongest vape bought legally and without a prescription. Only 2 per cent of 14 to 17-year-olds surveyed for the latest Generation Vape report said they had tried a pouch. Ben, who graduated in 2023, wishes the private high school he attended in the ACT had taught him that vaping, not just smoking cigarettes, was unhealthy. "They didn't advocate against it," he said. "They just said, 'If you do it and we catch you, you're f---ed, don't do it at school'. There was no message about health." Cancer Council ACT said their research suggested smoking and vaping education was a bigger focus for Canberra schools in 2025 than in 2023. The Association of Independent Schools of the ACT said education around alcohol and other drugs is a key part of the Australian curriculum, which all schools follow. Ben, not his real name, did not think that trying a vape as a teenager would lead to years of fighting a nicotine addiction. "I wish I'd never had nicotine, it's like a door and once you open it, you can't close it. It's always in the back of your mind," Ben, now aged 20, said. The university student said he was never warned about the health impacts of e-cigarettes, which Cancer Council ACT says include delayed brain development, seizures, poisoning, insomnia and mood changes. University of Sydney research, funded by Cancer Council, said while vaping increased rapidly among young people from 2019, that trend may be slowing or even reversing. The federal government banned the import of disposable vapes in 2024. It is only legal to buy low-dose nicotine e-cigarettes from a pharmacy. Cancer Council ACT said, "data from the ACT General Health Survey tells us that around two-thirds of young people have tried vaping, but over one in three are either not taking it up, or have already quit". While vapes are still sold illegally by many Canberra shopfronts, including tobacconists, bottle shops, convenience stores, petrol stations and news agencies, their reputation among young people may be changing. "Vapes have a bad rep," Ben said. "There's a big stereotype on people who use vapes that you're weird or that you're childish." Generation Vape study lead author Associate Professor Becky Freeman said most young Australians have never used nicotine products. "We're increasingly hearing young people saying that they're embarrassed that they vape, they don't want to be vaping, and the realities of addiction are beginning to rear their heads," Dr Freeman said. Health authorities are concerned that e-cigarettes are a gateway to tobacco. Ben said people switch from vapes to cigarettes because they have to smoke them less frequently. A July 2025 Generation Vape report said fewer Australian teens, aged 14 to 17, were smoking. Only 6 per cent had tried a cigarette. Now Ben and his mates have ditched vapes in favour of nicotine pouches, also referred to as Zyns (a popular brand) or upperdeckies. They are similar to snus, but do not contain tobacco and come in flavours like cherry, mint, citrus, coffee and cola. "It was a lot better for me because there was no smoke involved, it was just nicotine," Ben said. "It's the cheaper and safest way." Cancer Council said 950 per cent more pouches were seized at the Australian border in 2023 than in the previous two years. "Nicotine pouches usually contain very high levels of nicotine. Alongside damage to the mouth, they are mostly linked to the symptoms of excessive nicotine use," Cancer Council ACT said. "For young people, nicotine changes the way the brain matures, and can affect learning, memory, and attention long term, as well as making young people more susceptible to other drugs of addiction later in life." Dr Freeman claimed the pouches were another marketing ploy by Big Tobacco to addict young people. "There is no evidence that pouches are an effective way to quit smoking or vaping. We do have lots of other evidence-based ways to help people quit," she said. Ben said he has about eight 20mg pouches a day, which is eight times stronger than the strongest vape bought legally and without a prescription. Only 2 per cent of 14 to 17-year-olds surveyed for the latest Generation Vape report said they had tried a pouch. Ben, who graduated in 2023, wishes the private high school he attended in the ACT had taught him that vaping, not just smoking cigarettes, was unhealthy. "They didn't advocate against it," he said. "They just said, 'If you do it and we catch you, you're f---ed, don't do it at school'. There was no message about health." Cancer Council ACT said their research suggested smoking and vaping education was a bigger focus for Canberra schools in 2025 than in 2023. The Association of Independent Schools of the ACT said education around alcohol and other drugs is a key part of the Australian curriculum, which all schools follow. Ben, not his real name, did not think that trying a vape as a teenager would lead to years of fighting a nicotine addiction. "I wish I'd never had nicotine, it's like a door and once you open it, you can't close it. It's always in the back of your mind," Ben, now aged 20, said. The university student said he was never warned about the health impacts of e-cigarettes, which Cancer Council ACT says include delayed brain development, seizures, poisoning, insomnia and mood changes. University of Sydney research, funded by Cancer Council, said while vaping increased rapidly among young people from 2019, that trend may be slowing or even reversing. The federal government banned the import of disposable vapes in 2024. It is only legal to buy low-dose nicotine e-cigarettes from a pharmacy. Cancer Council ACT said, "data from the ACT General Health Survey tells us that around two-thirds of young people have tried vaping, but over one in three are either not taking it up, or have already quit". While vapes are still sold illegally by many Canberra shopfronts, including tobacconists, bottle shops, convenience stores, petrol stations and news agencies, their reputation among young people may be changing. "Vapes have a bad rep," Ben said. "There's a big stereotype on people who use vapes that you're weird or that you're childish." Generation Vape study lead author Associate Professor Becky Freeman said most young Australians have never used nicotine products. "We're increasingly hearing young people saying that they're embarrassed that they vape, they don't want to be vaping, and the realities of addiction are beginning to rear their heads," Dr Freeman said. Health authorities are concerned that e-cigarettes are a gateway to tobacco. Ben said people switch from vapes to cigarettes because they have to smoke them less frequently. A July 2025 Generation Vape report said fewer Australian teens, aged 14 to 17, were smoking. Only 6 per cent had tried a cigarette. Now Ben and his mates have ditched vapes in favour of nicotine pouches, also referred to as Zyns (a popular brand) or upperdeckies. They are similar to snus, but do not contain tobacco and come in flavours like cherry, mint, citrus, coffee and cola. "It was a lot better for me because there was no smoke involved, it was just nicotine," Ben said. "It's the cheaper and safest way." Cancer Council said 950 per cent more pouches were seized at the Australian border in 2023 than in the previous two years. "Nicotine pouches usually contain very high levels of nicotine. Alongside damage to the mouth, they are mostly linked to the symptoms of excessive nicotine use," Cancer Council ACT said. "For young people, nicotine changes the way the brain matures, and can affect learning, memory, and attention long term, as well as making young people more susceptible to other drugs of addiction later in life." Dr Freeman claimed the pouches were another marketing ploy by Big Tobacco to addict young people. "There is no evidence that pouches are an effective way to quit smoking or vaping. We do have lots of other evidence-based ways to help people quit," she said. Ben said he has about eight 20mg pouches a day, which is eight times stronger than the strongest vape bought legally and without a prescription. Only 2 per cent of 14 to 17-year-olds surveyed for the latest Generation Vape report said they had tried a pouch. Ben, who graduated in 2023, wishes the private high school he attended in the ACT had taught him that vaping, not just smoking cigarettes, was unhealthy. "They didn't advocate against it," he said. "They just said, 'If you do it and we catch you, you're f---ed, don't do it at school'. There was no message about health." Cancer Council ACT said their research suggested smoking and vaping education was a bigger focus for Canberra schools in 2025 than in 2023. The Association of Independent Schools of the ACT said education around alcohol and other drugs is a key part of the Australian curriculum, which all schools follow.
The Independent
16-07-2025
- The Independent
Drop in school children vaping since Australian ban: study
Australia's health minister, Mark Butler, has attributed a ban on disposable vapes to a significant reduction in vaping rates among school-aged children. The Generation Vape Research Project by Cancer Council reported that vaping among 14-17 year olds decreased from 17.5 per cent to 14 per cent between early 2023 and April this year. The government's 12-month campaign against illegal vape sales has resulted in the seizure of over 10 million illicit vapes, valued at half a billion dollars, in the past year. Although some vapes continue to enter the country, the ban has made disposable vapes more difficult to acquire and substantially increased their price, positively influencing young people. The ban aims to counter the targeting of children by the vape market and disrupt profits for organised crime, with the UK also implementing a similar ban on disposable vapes.
The Independent
16-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Teenage vaping in Australia has ‘turned a corner' after ban, study says
Vaping among school-age children has significantly reduced, the Australian government has said, citing a study, a year after a ban on disposable vapes. Australian health minister Mark Butler on Wednesday said vaping rates "have now turned the corner" for young children, calling it a result of their 12-month campaign to crack down on the illegal sale of vapes. The nationwide Generation Vape Research Project by Cancer Council conducted an anonymous survey of 3,000 young Australians. Among children aged 14-17 years, vaping rates have fallen from 17.5 per cent to 14 per cent from the start of 2023 to April this year, it has found. Overall, smoking rates among people aged over 15 fell by more than a third, while vaping rates among those aged 30 to 59 dropped by nearly half. 'Vaping rates for young Australians have now turned the corner. Our education and prevention campaigns as well as support to deter people from taking up vaping and smoking or to quit are making a difference', Mr Butler said. Mr Butler said vaping products still "leak" through the border despite their crackdown. "From the time we put this ban in place we never pretended we'd be able to stop every vape coming in," he said. "But we do know that it is harder to get your hands on a disposable vape … that's led to a very significant increase in the price of vapes where they are still accessible, and that's having a positive impact on young people." He said authorities have seized more than 10 million illegal vapes in the past year. The Therapeutic Goods Authority and Australian Border Force (ABF) said the 10 million vapes – half a billon dollars worth of vapes – were taken off the market. Additional seizures included 2.5 billion cigarette sticks and 435 tonnes of illicit tobacco. "It's a market that targets our communities including our children," ABF Assistant Commissioner Tony Smith said. "[It] sends profits into the hands of organised crime, profits that are used to cause further harm through intimidation tactics, arson, firearms, drugs and even cyber crime." Laws introduced to curb vaping banned single-use vapes from being made, imported, advertised and supplied in 2024. Only nicotine vapes were allowed to be legally sold with a prescription in pharmacies.
