New resources to help parents as children face mounting peer pressure to vape
For World No Tobacco Day, Life Ed. NSW are sharing new video resources for parents on how to have meaningful conversations with their children about the potential harms of vaping.
An increasing number of secondary school students feel they are under pressure to vape. While only a growing minority report trying the worrying habit for the first time according to the latest annual survey undertaken by Life Ed, there is a significant disparity between reality and perception regarding vaping.
The survey of more than 13,000 students in NSW and SA found that around 50% thought their classmates vaped every week and 20% every month, which was significantly more than was actually the case. 72% of students said they had never vaped, 15% said they rarely vaped or only tried it, 8% vaped weekly and 5% monthly.
In partnership with Life Ed, Australia’s largest provider of preventative health education to school students, we view this discrepancy between perception and reality as a crucial opportunity for a nationwide early intervention strategy to prevent an increase in vaping among young people.
Understanding that only a small portion of their peers engage in risky behaviours can be a powerful tool for young people to feel more confident in making positive choices. Despite this, the survey found some concerning trends, with 25% of students saying they felt they were being pressured to vape, compared to 20% in the previous year.
Many parents are unsure how to approach the topic. While three out of four parents (73%) were concerned that their teen might try vapes, less than half (43%) reported having talked to their child about it, revealed the RCH National Child Health Poll.
In response, Life Ed has launched a suite of video resources designed to empower parents and carers with the latest research and evidence-based information on vaping, and offer guidance on how to have meaningful conversations with their dependents about the potential harms that are both constructive and supportive.
The new resources offer:
Clear information on the health impacts and laws of vaping
Tips for recognising and addressing nicotine addiction
Strategies for having meaningful and positive conversations with young people
Guidance on where to find additional support and services
These resources are part of the “Reality Now” program – a preventative drug and alcohol education program for secondary school students, that nib foundation has proudly supported for a number of years. The program uses a social norms-based approach to bust the myths around the prevalence of vape use in young people and educate on its negative health impacts.
For more information about Life Ed’s new parent resources on vaping and the “Reality Now” program, click here, opens in a new tab
