Should we be worried about vaping?
28th October - 4th November 2022
Looking for lessons to help you teach about vaping? You'll find them here:
Download LessonsLooking for lessons to help you teach about vaping? You'll find them here:
Download LessonsFrom bans in Australia to recommendations from UK health professionals, to the rubbish strewn around your local pavements, vaping is everywhere. Especially if you work in schools or with young people, it is very hard to get away from discussing it.
There are worries of parents and health professionals about the accessibility and the marketing of vape and e-cigarette devices. Recent research shows a more than 50% increase in children trying a vape for the first time.
While there are concerns from authorities and adults it is also essential to listen to what children have to say on the subject. In November 2022, our voters discussed whether its benefits, namely reducing the harm caused by cigarettes outweighs the potential, unknown side effects.
Total votes
5-11 votes
11-18+ votes
“Playground trends are good because people might make friends and take turns”
"Because it is quite recent, we have not done enough studies on it to see what effects vaping has on our lungs. It could be as bad as smoking for all we know."
“If smoking can damage people because it has nicotine, vaping can too. To me vaping seems like a new 'cooler' equivalent it's really just the same thing in a flashy case.”
"[...] The worry is about the marketing of vaping to young kids who are attracted by the bright colours and bubblegum flavours, but perhaps to maintain the vaping to an older already addicted group would be beneficial in a controlled way."
We had three different questions this week, with Secondary and College students all considering: “Should we be worried about vaping?”, Primary age 7-11 voters exploring the question: “Do we know enough about how vaping affects us?” and Primary age 5-7 voters deciding: “Are playground trends a good thing?”.
Martin Dockrell
Department for Health and Social Care
Dr David Regis
Schools Health Education Unit (SHEU)
Dr David Regis
Schools Health Education Unit (SHEU)