E-cigarettes and vaping
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Electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigarettes, are battery operated products that replicate smoking.
The Vaping, Youth and Health e-learning package is now available for all Tasmanian teachers, school health staff, and school support staff.
Learn more about the Vaping, Youth and Health e-learning package
See the 'Getting Started' information
Complete the online modules via Tasmanian Health Learning Online
How e-cigarettes work
- E-cigarettes work by heating a cartridge that contains liquid.
- The heating process creates an aerosol that resembles tobacco smoke.
- E-cigarette aerosol is not water vapour.
- E-cigarettes are commonly called “vapes” and the action of using them “vaping”.
Do you know what you're vaping?
- E-cigarettes contain:
- the same harmful chemicals found in cleaning products, nail polish remover, weed killer and bug spray
- toxins such as formaldehyde and heavy metals
- flavouring chemicals
- Many e-cigarettes also contain nicotine even if labelled ‘nicotine free’. Nicotine is addictive. The nicotine in one e-cigarette can be equivalent to 50 cigarettes.
- The quality and safety of e-cigarette products has not been assessed and can vary in the amount and type of chemicals they contain.
How using e-cigarettes harm the body
- E-cigarettes contain corrosive chemicals that do not belong in our lungs.
- E-cigarettes have been linked with immediate harms including respiratory illness, serious lung disease and death.
- The nicotine in e-cigarettes can cause addiction and increase the risk of anxiety and depression.
- A young person’s brain develops until the age of 25 and is particularly vulnerable to the effects of nicotine.
- Early exposure to nicotine has been shown to negatively affect the structure and function of the brain.
- E-cigarette use is also a gateway to starting smoking.
Vaping and young people
- Most young Tasmanians don't smoke and don't vape. However, the use of e-cigarettes has increased rapidly among young people in the last few years with one third of secondary student in Tasmania having tried e-cigarettes.
- Knowing the facts about vaping is part of Tasmania’s approach to respond to e-cigarette use in schools.
- Schools are well placed to help prevent young Tasmanian's from taking up e-cigarettes and supporting those who currently use e-cigarettes to quit.
- Tasmanian schools are required to be smoke free (this also means vape free).
- The Vaping, Youth and Health e-learning package is available for use in all Tasmanian schools.
Need help or support to quit vaping or smoking?
- Phone a Quitline advisor on 13 78 48 (free service).
- See your doctor or pharmacist for advice on different ways to help with quitting.
- Speak with a trusted person such as family or friends.
- If you are a young person, you can talk to:
- support person at school such as a school health nurse, teacher, social worker, or psychologist, or
- youth health worker or nurse at a youth health centre.
Smoke free and other e-cigarette laws in Tasmania
- You cannot use e-cigarettes in public areas that are smoke free. Smoke free also means vape free. Smoke free and vape free signage is available for organisations to display.
- Most laws that exist around cigarettes are similar for e-cigarettes.
- A person under 18 years of age cannot buy, possess, or use e-cigarettes.
- A person over 18 cannot give or sell e-cigarettes to a person under 18.
- Shops in Tasmania who sell e-cigarettes require a smoking product licence and can only sell “nicotine free” e-cigarettes to people over 18.
- Pharmacies with a smoking product licence can sell e-cigarettes containing nicotine to people with a prescription from a doctor.
- There are restrictions about displaying, advertising, or selling e-cigarettes to people under 18.
Do e-cigarettes help people wanting to quit smoking?
- There are no e-cigarette products approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
- E-cigarettes are not proven safe and effective smoking cessation aids.
- If other smoking cessation aids have failed, short-term e-cigarette use may be of benefit to help you quit smoking.
- It is recommended that you speak to your doctor or healthcare provider if you want more information about quitting smoking.
Vaping, Youth and Health e-learning package for Tasmanian schools
- The Vaping, Youth and Health e-learning package is available for use in all Tasmanian schools.
- The Vaping, Youth and Health e-learning package includes professional learning for teachers, support staff, and school health nurses to develop and deliver learning programs about e-cigarettes
- It aims to increase staff knowledge of e-cigarette issues, including health harms, nicotine addiction, environmental concerns, the local regulatory context, and how to talk to young people about e-cigarettes.
- The Vaping, Youth and Health e-learning package includes interactive classroom resources for Year 7 and 8 students that align with the Australian Curriculum, as well as information for parents.
- Teachers, school health staff, and support staff can access the e-learning package via the Tasmania Health Learning Online platform.
- The Vaping, Youth and Health e-learning package was developed by ACT Health. It has been licensed by the Department of Health, Tasmania and updated for a Tasmanian context in collaboration with the Department for Education, Children and Young People, and the Smoke Free Young People Working Group.
Resources and more information about e-cigarettes
- Vaping, Youth and Health e-learning package for schools
- Do you know what you're vaping? - resources for teachers and schools
- Do you know what you're vaping? - resources for young people
- Do you know what you're vaping? - resources for parents and carers
- Smoke free and vape free signage – for businesses
- Learn about e-cigarettes and severe lung illness on the Australian Government Department of Health website
- View the Public Health Act 1997
Acknowledgement
Department of Health Tasmania acknowledges NSW Health’s authorship and ownership of Do you know what you’re vaping? campaign. The campaign and resources are evidence based (see Vaping evidence summary – Tobacco and smoking).
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