The ACT Government has launched a new campaign to increase awareness of the health harms of vaping and connect young people with practical support to quit.
Minister for Health, Marisa Paterson said the campaign is part of the ACT Government’s broader commitment to reducing vaping rates and protecting the health and wellbeing of young Canberrans.
“Vaping exposes young people to harmful chemicals, including known cancer-causing agents. Most vapes also contain nicotine, which is highly addictive and can affect young people’s physical and mental health, including brain development,” she said.
“Our message to young people is clear: vaping is harmful to your health, even after short-term use. If you are thinking about quitting vaping, there are many support services available to help you every step of the way.”
Research from the Australian Secondary Students’ Alcohol and Drug Survey 2014–2022/23 found the proportion of ACT secondary school students aged 12-17 years who reported ever vaping increased from 11.6% in 2014 to 27.4% in 2022–23. Meanwhile, the ACT General Health Survey 2012−2022 showed the proportion of young adults aged 18-24 years who reported ever vaping increased from 18.6% in 2018 to 63.3% in 2022.
“We’ve seen a concerning increase in the prevalence of nicotine use among young people, so it has been great to see the ACT Government’s ongoing commitment to addressing the rise in vaping among young Canberrans with the launch of the Youth Vaping Campaign,” said Anglicare Child, Youth, Family & Health Services senior manager, Jasmine Woodland.
“We welcome the opportunity the campaign provides for increased visibility of our program Nicotine Knockout @ The Junction, which is dedicated to supporting young people in the ACT to quit nicotine and is available free of charge to all ACT residents aged 24 and under.”
The Youth Vaping Campaign is aimed at young Canberrans aged 14–24 and connects them with important information about the health harms of vaping through real people testimonial videos, images and posters.
“The ACT Government’s Youth Vaping Campaign is a fantastic initiative to ensure young people in Canberra are aware of the harm that vaping has on one’s health and wellbeing,” said Canberra Institute of Technology acting CEO, Mitch Pirie.
“Our campuses at CIT are smoke and vape free so that we provide a safe and supportive study environment for everyone. We’re keen to reinforce that by sharing the ACT Government’s campaign messaging and resources with our students.”
To learn more about the health harms of vaping, visit Vaping and your health – ACT Government.
For information about the support services available to help you quit vaping, visit Get help to quit smoking or vaping – ACT Government.
