The use of e-cigarettes among young people is becoming a growing concern on the Central Coast and indeed across all of Australia. That’s why we’ve launched our Say No to Vaping campaign. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the health risks young people are exposing themselves to by using electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes).
E-cigarettes are not only addictive, but also contain or produce harmful chemicals and toxins that can cause some of the same serious health problems as smoking tobacco. The nicotine found in them is highly addictive and can affect brain development in teens, impacting their learning, concentration and mood, causing anxiety and depression. Despite this, data on teenage vaping in Australia in 2017 indicated one in five students aged 16 to 17 had used an e-cigarette, while nearly one in 10 students aged 12 to 15 had used one. Our work with schools and community groups across the Central Coast tells us that this is a growing concern for them.
Say No to Vaping aims to debunk some of the myths around vaping and empower teens to make informed decisions about whether they should vape. We have produced a number of materials you can use, including animations, social media tiles and printable posters, as well as FAQs and mythbusters. You can download the resources below.
Read the launch media release here.
Say no to addiction, say no to anxiety and depression, say no to being exploited, and say no to the serious health risks. Say No to Vaping.
Downloadable resources
Mythbusters
FAQs
Downloadable resources
Say No to Vaping infographic
Health risks social tile | poster | animation
Addiction social tile | poster | animation
Anxiety and depression social tile | poster | animation
Smoking social tile | poster | animation
Pollution social tile | poster | animation
Exploitation social tile | poster
Mythbusters
MYTH: Vaping is not bad for your health.
FACT: Despite their appealing flavours, many e-cigarettes contain or produce chemicals and toxins such as formaldehyde and heavy metals that can cause DNA damage, serious lung damage and cancer. They also contain other chemicals not found in tobacco smoke, and it is not yet known what effects these will have on your health in the long-term – so why take the risk?
What’s more, they can cause physical harm too; there are now thousands of cases of people being injured by faulty e-cigarette batteries exploding.
MYTH: You can’t get addicted to vaping like you can to smoking.
FACT: Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine – the same highly-addictive chemical that’s in regular cigarettes. What’s more, because you can buy extra-strength cartridges or increase the e-cigarette’s voltage to get a greater hit, many e-cigarette users get even more nicotine than they would from a tobacco product.
This is not good for you. Nicotine can affect brain development in teens, impacting their learning, concentration and mood, causing anxiety and depression. Putting nicotine into your body also increases your risk of other types of addiction in later life. Emerging evidence suggests non-smokers who vape are three times more likely to take up tobacco smoking than those who do not vape.
MYTH: E-cigarettes contain less nicotine than regular cigarettes.
FACT: Depending on the size and type of e-cigarette, they can contain as much nicotine as up to three entire packs of cigarettes!
MYTH: Using a STIG or Cuvie is not as bad for you as using traditional e-cigarettes.
FACT: Using a STIG or Cuvie to vape is just as bad for you as using any other size or shape e-cigarette.
MYTH: Vaping will help you stop smoking.
FACT: There is not enough evidence to prove e-cigarettes are effective at helping smokers quit. That is why they are not an approved product for helping people to quit. Worse, studies have shown high school students who start using e-cigarettes are much more likely to begin smoking regular cigarettes as well.
If you are trying to quit smoking, nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is a better choice. If you would like help to quit, call the Quitline on 13 7848, visit the I Can Quit website or talk to your parent or guardian, or a health professional.
MYTH: E-cigarettes are not bad for the environment like regular cigarettes.
FACT: Vapes waste is especially bad for the environment for three reasons.
- Many vape devices, pods and cartridges are made of single-use plastic.
- They introduce hazardous and toxic chemicals like nicotine into the environment when used and discarded.
- They produce electronic waste as they contain lithium-ion batteries and a heating element.
MYTH: All vaping is legal.
FACT: In NSW, it is illegal to sell e-cigarettes or e-cigarette accessories to a person under 18 years of age, while it is illegal to sell e-cigarettes containing nicotine to all ages. It is also illegal to use e-cigarettes in places where smoking is illegal, including:
- Within 10 metres of children’s play equipment in outdoor public places
- Public swimming pools
- Spectator areas at sports grounds or other recreational areas used for organised sporting events
- Public transport stops and platforms, including ferry wharves and taxi ranks
- Within 4 metres of a pedestrian access point to a public building
- Commercial outdoor dining areas
From October 2021, you will need a doctor’s prescription to access liquid nicotine for use in e-cigarettes.
FAQs
What is vaping?
Vaping is inhaling a vapour produced by an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette).
E-cigarettes are battery-powered and may look like traditional cigarettes, cigars or pipes, as well as everyday items like pens, highlighters or USB memory sticks. They have cartridges filled with a liquid that typically contains nicotine, flavourings and chemicals. This liquid is heated by the battery, producing a vapour that the user inhales, hence the term “vaping”.
Is vaping safe?
No. Despite their appealing flavours, many e-cigarettes contain or produce chemicals and toxins such as formaldehyde and heavy metals that can cause DNA damage, serious lung damage and cancer. They also contain other chemicals not found in tobacco smoke, and it is not yet known what effects these will have on your health in the long-term – so why take the risk?
What’s more, they can cause physical harm too; there are now thousands of cases of people being injured by faulty e-cigarette batteries exploding.
What’s in an e-cigarette?
Hazardous substances have been found in e-cigarette liquids and in the vapour produced by e-cigarettes, including formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and acrolein, which are known to cause cancer.
The vapour could also be delivering metal particles like chromium, nickel, lead, tin and aluminium into your lungs, and some of these metals are toxic.
I’ve heard the terms STIG and Cuvie. Is this different from an e-cigarette?
No, a STIG or HQD Cuvie refers to vaping using a particular brand of e-cigarette. Both STIGs and Cuvies are shaped like USB sticks and do not look like a traditional e-cigarette. Unlike traditional e-cigarettes that require a battery or charger, many STIGs and Cuvies can be charged by being plugged into a USB drive or any electronic device.
Can I get addicted to vaping?
Yes. Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine – the same highly-addictive chemical that’s in regular cigarettes. In fact, dependent on the size and type of e-cigarette, they can contain as much nicotine as up to three entire packs of cigarettes!
This is not good for you. Nicotine can affect brain development in teens, impacting their learning, concentration and mood, causing anxiety and depression. Putting nicotine into your body also increases your risk of other types of addiction in later life. Emerging evidence suggests non-smokers who vape are three times more likely to take up tobacco smoking than those who do not vape.
Can e-cigarettes help you quit smoking?
When e-cigarettes were first available, it was thought they could be used to help smokers cut down and eventually quit smoking regular cigarettes. Since then, evidence has shown they are not more effective, and that is why they are not an approved product for helping people to quit. Even more concerning, studies have shown high school students who start using e-cigarettes are much more likely to begin smoking regular cigarettes as well.
If you are trying to quit smoking, nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is a better choice. If you would like help to quit, call the Quitline on 13 7848, visit the I Can Quit website or talk to your parent or guardian, or a health professional.
If they’re not safe, why is vaping legal?
The sale of e-cigarettes containing nicotine is illegal in NSW. It is also illegal to use e-cigarettes in places where smoking is illegal, including:
- Within 10 metres of children’s play equipment in outdoor public places
- Public swimming pools
- Spectator areas at sports grounds or other recreational areas used for organised sporting events
- Public transport stops and platforms, including ferry wharves and taxi ranks
- Within 4 metres of a pedestrian access point to a public building
- Commercial outdoor dining areas
Additionally, it is illegal to sell e-cigarettes or e-cigarette accessories to a person under 18 years of age whether the device contains nicotine or not. There is a reason for this: they’re not safe.
Read more about e-cigarettes – the major trends, research and hot topics – on our e-cigarettes page.
Look for the ‘We Are Breastfeeding Friendly’ sticker in Central Coast businesses and facilities that are supportive of mothers’ breastfeeding on their premises. There are more than 300 on the Central Coast helping to promote a positive attitude towards breastfeeding in the community.
