Crackdown on vaping to benefit schools

The federal government has announced regulatory action against illegal vaping products, in a move welcomed by schools.

Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler said the Australian Government would take action against the importation and sale of illegal vaping products.

The Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA) has embraced the announcement.

“The need for swift regulatory action on vaping products has become increasingly apparent,” said Dr Chris Duncan, CEO of AHISA.

“AHISA supported regulatory measures in its recent submission to a Therapeutic Goods Administration consultation on potential reforms.”

Duncan also welcomed the announcement that the 2023–24 federal Budget will allocate $737 million for measures to address smoking and vaping issues.

“The government is allocating $63 million for a public health campaign to discourage people taking up smoking and vaping and to encourage quitting,” he said.

“A national campaign with consistent messaging is an important way to unify and amplify the existing efforts of state and territory governments, health organisations and schools to address vaping in young people.”

Duncan said a national campaign should be segmented to enable direct targeting of young people through the social media platforms that influence their behaviours.

“Some state departments of health or education have produced excellent educational materials for schools, but school-based education programs are no longer enough to curb the alarming rate of uptake of vaping among young people or to counter the increase of young people experiencing vaping harms,” he said.

Image credit: iStock.com/Natalya Vilman