In its most recent priority Issues paper, the Gippsland Primary Health Network (Gippsland PHN) is now warning the public of the vaping effection. The Network wants the community to know that using e-cigarettes is not as safe as many people want to believe.
In the paper, the PHN says that vaping has been found to carry many side effects. Some of the more serious side effects include lung and heart problems caused by chemicals found in vaping products. The paper further says that research has linked vaping to cancer. The other side effects include poisoning and seizures.
The paper further reveals that using e-cigarettes exposes members of the community to fine particulate matter similar to those found in traffic-polluted air and bushfires and too heavy metal elements. These two can have many short-term and long-term impacts. The short-term impacts include throat irritation, breathing problems, vomiting and coughing among many other health complications.
According to Amanda Proposch, the chief executive officer of the Gippsland Primary Health Network, the paper provides many important but alarming statistics that show an increase in Victorian adults taking up vaping. She says that vaping in the state has grown by 5% up from 17% in 2018-2019 to 22% in 2022. This is alarming because many of the adults who say that they have used vaping products believe that e-cigarettes are safer than traditional cigarettes. The problem with this is that vaping products still produce many chemicals found in traditional tobacco products.
Of the 22of % of adults who say they have used vaping products about 6.1% are current users. This is an increase from 3% in 2018-2019. The number of regular users of vaping products has also grown from 1.6% to over 3.5%. Ms Proposch is concerned that the largest increase in people who vape has occurred among those below the age of 30. According to the paper, the number of young males (18-24 years) who vape grew from 10.8% in 2018-19 to 19.4% in 2022. The number of females within the same age bracket who vaped grew to 15.2% in 2022 up from 2.8% in 2018-2019. This is the largest growth in vaping cases among all age groups.
But it is not just the young adults. A recent survey conducted among Australian school staff revealed that 78% of them were concerned about the increasing cases of school kids vaping both in secondary and primary schools.
According to Ms Proposch, the only way to help Australians and especially Victorians live healthier and longer lives is to address the vaping problems in the country. This is because vaping products have been found to contain more nicotine and this makes them very addictive. This leads many teens and young adults to consider smoking cigarettes. The problem with this trend is those young people who vape report problems with social interactions, poor mental health and a drop in performance both in academic and physical activities.
Ms Proposch is calling on all stakeholders to start advocating for a ban on vaping products. This she says is important because currently people can buy some vaping products over the counter and this makes it easy for many school-going kids and young adults to access these dangerous products.
