‘Rise in Students Vaping’ (13 August 2020) was the headline in the Otago Daily Times. The article went on to support a hunch that we have about the growing popularity of vaping.

Just two years ago, the New Zealand Youth Insights Survey (a nationally representative survey of Year 10 students) showed that 2% of students were daily vapers, 8% of students were current vapers (vaped at least monthly), and 61% of students had never vaped. Fast forward to statements made earlier this year by the Auckland Secondary Principals Association (2020) suggest that the per cent may have climbed as high as 30% of students having tried or been regular users of e-cigarettes.

There is still limited research available on the health risks of vaping for young people, but the damage of being introduced to addictive nicotine delivery devices so early in a girl’s life is sure to be a worry that we all share. Of further concern are the legal ramifications, as the law clearly states that vape products are not available to anyone under the age of 18 which means school students are being supplied and/or sourcing these products illegally.

There are those in the media and in the community who might argue that vaping is ‘harmless’ and ‘a coping strategy for stress’, but we would argue that there are many healthier ways of coping with life's stresses and how to resist peer pressure situations. Our school-wide Wellbeing Programme offers a developmental scope and sequence for educating our girls on matters relating to health, personal and social development, delivered through our Health and Physical Education curriculum and our specialist programmes such as Rite Journey, Step Up and Life Skills.

You may be aware that the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (vaping) Amendment Bill was passed last week, and this will regulate vaping products and heated tobacco devices. As quoted in the Otago Daily Times, Associate Health Minister Jenny Salesa said the Bill aimed to strike a balance between helping smokers quit by offering regulated vaping as an alternative, while discouraging children and young people from taking it up.

I have attached three resources that may be of use to you if you are navigating these conversations with your daughters.

https://www.vapingfacts.health.nz/

https://www.hpa.org.nz/programme/education/young-people-vaping

https://stmargarets.nz.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/ecigarettes-and-vaping-nz

At SMC, we will always act in the best interests of the girls in our care. In the event that a girl is caught vaping or in possession of related products, the device will be held by staff and parents will be informed. Should the behaviour be repeated, the student is likely to face a stand down period while further investigations and medical advice are sought. Time away from school to overcome any nicotine addiction may be necessary, but it would be our hope that early notice and intervention would prevent this.

It is the strength of our home-school partnership and shared high expectations for our girls that will continue to protect them from the potential long term harm of vaping.