In recent years, there has been a rapid increase in the number of young people who vape. Almost one in three West Australian high school students had tried vaping in 2022/23, up from 13.5 per cent in 2017. Of those students, nearly one in five had vaped in the past month.
The good news is that Australia’s new vape laws appear to be having a positive impact on reducing teenagers’ access to and use of vapes. Promising early indicators from the Generation Vape research project show a reduction in the number of adolescents reporting having ever vaped, and among those who do vape, fewer are purchasing their own vapes.
But we can’t take our foot off the peddle yet. Turning these promising early indicators into a long-term trend requires continued commitment to a comprehensive approach, including strong legislation, community engagement, media campaigns and quit support.
How can parents and carers help?
As a parent or carer, you play an important role in protecting your teenager from the harms of vaping, you can support them by:
- Learning about vapes and the risks to physical and mental health
- Having an open conversation with your teenager
- Sticking to facts and avoiding judgments
- Helping them quit (if they are open to it).
Helpful resources for parents and carers
There are several free resources available for parents and carers that can help you to have a conversation with your teenager about vaping.
Quitline 13 7848
Quitline 13 7848 is a warm, welcoming, confidential and free counselling service. Their trained and highly skilled counsellors tailor their approach to support young people who want to quit vaping. They can help with:
- Identifying and managing triggers
- Managing withdrawals and cravings
- Building motivation and skills to quit.
Quitline has a culturally safe Aboriginal Quitline service staffed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander counsellors. Quitline is also safe space for LGBTIQA+ communities. There is also a number of ways to access the Quitline for those who speak languages other than English and/or with hearing or speech impairments.
As a parent or carer, you can contact Quitline for information and ways to approach the conversation.
Ways to contact Quitline:
- Call 13 7848 Monday to Friday 8am-8pm
- Text ‘call back’ to 0482 090 634
- Chat on Facebook Messenger @quitvic or send a message on WhatsApp +61 385 832 920
- Request a call back online.
Factsheets and conversation guides
Free resources and guides are available online to provide you more information, including:
- The facts about vaping for parents and carers provides information about vapes and the health impacts of vaping. Specific factsheets are also available on:
- Escape the vape: A conversation guide for parents and carers
- Talking to your teen about vaping includes conversation starters and evidence-based insights for meaningful conversations with children and young people.
- A webinar by Kidsafe WA and Cancer Council WA which has additional information on vapes, the health risks associated with vaping, and resources to engage with young people on vaping.
Clear the Air program
Our vaping prevention and support program, Clear the Air, has information specifically designed for young people. Visit the Clear the Air website to find out more.
Information for parents and carers who vape
If you are a person who vapes:
- Avoid vaping when children and young people are nearby as passive exposure to vape aerosol can be damaging.
- Nicotine is a poisoning risk. Always keep vapes and e-liquids locked away and out of reach of children. If you think someone has been poisoned by nicotine, call the WA Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 immediately (24 hours a day) or 000 if it is an emergency.
- You influence your teen’s attitudes and decisions on vaping more than you think. If you are looking for support have a chat to your doctor, reach out to Quitline 13 7848 or visit the Make Smoking History website for more information and tips.
The Clear the Air program is supported by Lotterywest and Healthway.