After noticing more students vaping at school, a principal has urged tighter restrictions on their use.
An e-cigarette is a type of electronic cigarette that emits an aerosol by heating up a liquid that normally includes nicotine—the addictive substance present in traditional cigars, cigarettes, and other tobacco products.
They come in a variety of forms, flavors, and sizes and are becoming increasingly popular.
One vape retailer in Llanelli told ITV News that he has seen parents seeking to purchase them for their kids, even though they are under the legal age.
Ethan Smith, owner of Rebel Vaper in Llanelli, stated that it has turned into a major issue in recent months.
“They’ll walk in with phony IDs… they’ll even walk in with their parents and attempt to convince their parents to buy one… they’ll stand at the end of the street and urge others to come in for them,” he claimed.
“There is also disposable vape, which is a new form of vape that comes in incredibly colorful packages with crazy flavors.”
Electronic cigarettes do not emit carbon monoxide or tar, two of the extremely dangerous components of nicotine. According to the NHS, the vapor and liquid include certain potentially dangerous compounds also present in tobacco smoke, but at considerably lower levels.
According to a study conducted by the charity Mix, which assists younger individuals under the age of 25, the number of adolescents using e-cigarettes in the last year nearly tripled to 44%, slightly higher compared to 15% in 2021.
The statistics come barely months after the Welsh Government announced plans to make a smoke-free Wales by 2030.
According to Ioanwen Spowage, principal of Ysgol Bro Dinefwr, Llandeilo, while speaking to ITV News, vaping is not adequately regulated.
“While the legislation exists and it is prohibited to buy for young people, we lack the penalties and the law explicitly in terms of use on public venues.”
She went ahead to say that policing the usage of vapes in schools is particularly difficult.
“Youngsters are attempting to keep them from the public; they realize it’s something they shouldn’t be doing, so they look for every nook where they can hide them.”
“Cigarettes trigger smoke alarms as opposed to vapes, therefore, you’re searching for gatherings of youths, you’re searching for that tell-tale odor from the e-cigarettes, but basically you have to be present at the appropriate times.”
Since the implementation of the Nicotine Inhaling Products (Age of Sale and Proxy Purchasing) Regulations, the sale of electronic cigarettes to individuals under the legal age of 18 has been outlawed in England and Wales.
The Tobacco and Related Items Regulations of 2016 mandated that vapes as well as refill products be “child-resistant and tamper evident.”
It also states that the addictive qualities and toxic effects of e-cigarettes and refill items must be displayed on the packaging.
In Wales, individuals are permitted to use vape/e-cigarette in a smoke-free environment. Those in charge of certain locations and surroundings, on the other hand, have the option of prohibiting the use of e-cigarettes.
E-cigarettes can aid people to quit smoking. However, there are concerns that they are becoming more popular among adolescents.
Trystan Wyn Sion, a Smoking and Wellbeing Consultant, believes that youths must be sensitized to smoking-related risks.
“Nicotine is a highly addictive drug; we know it has a significant effect on the developing brain, and we are also aware that adolescents are significantly more vulnerable to nicotine addiction.”
Helen Wright, of Hywel Dda Health Board’s new addiction department, supports youngsters in quitting vaping.
“We can offer behavioral counseling and nicotine replacement to either help them quit or abstain during the school day so they don’t go into withdrawal and don’t have to vape in the toilet.”
Following a meeting with students to address the subject, First Minister Mark Drakeford stated that failure to adopt legislation prohibiting vaping in public settings, similar to traditional cigarettes, is among his “greatest political regrets.”
“In Wales, we had the opportunity to do something different that would have safeguarded young folks from the harms that e-cigarettes and vaping pose.”
Mark Drakeford, Wales’ Health Minister from 2013 to 2016, attempted to ban vaping in public areas and implement “much more regulation regarding the use of electronic cigarettes” than exists today.
The bill did not manage to become law after missing one vote during the final day of Senedd’s tenure.
However, the First Minister recently stated, “We’re going back to see if we can save from what we lost since the evidence of young people being drawn into nicotine addiction by e-cigarettes is truly worrisome.”
