>
An alarming rise in the number of young Australians vaping is a ‘slow train wreck’, health authorities warned.
Vaping in the state of Victoria has doubled in frequency in four years, according to a Victorian Smoking & Health Survey, published Wednesday.
In an alarming trend, the data also showed that there had been a sharp “fivefold” increase in women ages 18 to 24 using the e-cigarettes statewide.
The vaporization products, which young people inhale deep into their lungs, contain more than 200 chemicals, many of which are banned under current law
“If we want Victorians to live longer and healthier lives, we urgently need effective regulation of vaping that puts the health of our community first,” said Dr. Sandro Demaio (photo, with wife, Olivia)
The number of vapers in this age group, which made up 2.8 percent of users under the age of 30 in 2018-2019, has risen to 15.2 percent in 2022, the survey finds.
Victorians aged 18 to 30 also made up more than half of the state’s vape users.
dr. Sandro Demaio of VicHealth, which funded the study, said the market is flooded with cheaply imported, addictive products.
‘[These items]that young people inhale deep into their lungs contain more than 200 chemicals, many of which are banned under current law,” the CEO said. Nine news.
“Most contain nicotine, but they just don’t put it on the package.”
dr. Demaio (pictured) of VicHealth, which funded the study, said the market has been flooded with cheaply imported, addictive products
He said e-cigarettes contain formaldehyde and heavy metals, which can cause cancer and damage to the brain and lungs.
‘We are seeing a huge increase. It has doubled in four years among adults in Victoria and its use has increased fivefold among young women,” says Dr Demaio.
Quit Victoria’s director, Dr Sarah White, said decades of tobacco control success could be undone with the ready availability of illegal e-cigarettes.
“We have an estimated 77,200 never-smokers who report that they currently use e-cigarettes, and more than half of e-cigarette users vape nicotine in the past year,” she said in a statement.
“At a time when we as a society are trying to reduce preventable health problems, this is a slow-motion train wreck for Victoria.”
Vapers Have Already Sued The State Quitline And Say They Can’t shake the e-cigarette habit.
The data also showed that Victorian vapers, who numbered 154,895 in 2018 to 2019, now number 308,827.
It also said that nearly a quarter of all Victorian adults who currently use e-cigarettes have never smoked before.
dr. Demaio said some vapes are shaped like highlighters and have hoodie switches, which kids can use to hide the e-cigarettes in their clothes.
dr. Demaio said the colorful and versatile e-cigarettes are drawing younger people in, with some vapes that taste like milk and fruit loops.
He added that some vapes are shaped like highlighters and hoodie switches, which kids can use to hide the e-cigarettes in their clothes.
The health advocate has called for stricter vaping laws, adding that the problem wasn’t just limited to Victoria.
He said the federal government should take action to keep a closer eye on what is entering Australia.
In Victoria, a licensing scheme was also recommended to identify merchants in the trade.
“We know that many of the same chemicals and carcinogens in tobacco processing are present in e-cigarette liquids,” said Dr. Demaio in a statement.
“If we want Victorians to live longer and healthier lives, we urgently need effective regulation of vaping that puts the health of our community first.”
“We know that many of the same chemicals and carcinogens in tobacco processing are present in e-cigarette liquids,” said Dr. Demaio.