b"The Great Eastern Mail FEBRUARY 24, 2023 03Is child vaping more than a fad?V APING refers to the usesmoking, went on to later of an e-cigarette, whichtrying tobacco cigarettes. is a battery-operatedAlthough there is device typically shaped like ainsufficient research to know cigarette, cigar, pen or otherexactly what the long-term common item. E-cigaretteseffects of vaping will be on heat liquids to produce aones health, it does appear vapour that looks like smoke,that the toxic chemicals and which users then inhale intoflavourings in e-cigarettes are their lungs.potentially damaging. The Although e-cigarettes doRoyal Childrens Hospital not burn tobacco and not allMelbourne, for example, e-cigarettes contain nicotine,found that nicotine exposure according to Quit Victoria,can negatively affect childrens many vaping products labelledhealth and development. as nicotine-free may actuallyEvidence is also emerging that contain nicotine, as well asvaping can lead to adverse other dangerous substanceshealth impacts such as such as formaldehyde. Ascardiovascular disease and such, in Victoria, it is generallyrespiratory disease, and a link illegal to sell, possess or usehas been identified between liquid containing nicotine invaping and lung disease an e-cigarette, unless you haverequiring intensive care. a prescription from a doctor.2019 Joana Lopes/ING image The appeal for young Those that do not containpeople may lie in the fact nicotine can be legally sold,that the liquid solutions for possessed and used, as long asbelieves vaping to be a betterwere doing it. I was neveryou roll it you need tobacco,because they fear the oldere-cigarettes are available it does not contain any otheralternative to smoking. Shepressured by anyone, but sincepapers and a filterit's juststudents who are vaping inin fun-sounding flavours illegal ingredients). Of course,says, I think because cigarettesI was so exposed to it at partiestoo much work! there. Fortunately, traditionalsuch as bubble-gum, fruits it is illegal to sell or supplycan be quite dirty and smelly,I did get curious, and it didn'tIn Jennys friend group,methods of deterrencesuchor chocolate, with nicotine these products to minors. vaping is regarded as a goodseem like a big deal because itvaping is very popular withas buddy systems, designatedand nicotine-free varieties In 2020-21, the Australianalternative. Its thought to notwas happening all around mean estimated one in threeuse of toilet blocks for specificavailable. Unfortunately, for Bureau of Statistics^ (ABS)be as bad for you as cigarettes,so often by then. partaking. Initially, I wantedyear levels, and havingsome, the addiction that can found that almost one inand its a lot more pleasant forIn my circle of friends,to try it because a lot ofteachers physically patrolensue, can be far from fun. ten (9.3%) people aged 18the people around you thantheres a pretty even splitmy friends really liked it;bathroomsare now being I don't like vaping because years and over had used ancigarette smoke. I think a lot ofbetween smokers and vapers.it smelled amazing and itreplaced with sophisticatedit's very addictive and e-cigarette or vaping devicepeople start doing it becauseMany of us do both or startedseemed like a nicer optiontechnology-based solutions,probably just as badif not at least once, while 2.2%there is a big social aspect;with one and moved on tothan smoking cigarettessuch as strategically placedworse for youthan tobacco reported currently using apeople do it to fit in.the other (like me). I think thebecause it doesn't makemulti-sensors that respond tosmoking. Amanda agrees device. Interestingly, men agedAmanda adds, Asplit is to do with personalyou stink like smoking, andthe detection of chemicals insaying, I hate how addictive it 18 years and over were moreconsiderable amount of myupbringingif someone'syou can do it in areas wherethe air (such as vape smoke),is, because now I can't stop. likely than women to havefriends vape, and a lot of themparents smoked, they tend tosmoking isnt allowed (e.g., inby sending an email and/orResources including used an e-cigarette or vapingtry it socially as well. I wantedsmoke rather than vape, sayscars, houses, on job sites, andSMS to alert staff members.factsheets and videos for device at least once (11.3%to quit smoking and found that20-year-old Jenny.at school).The ABS found that justparents, teachers and teens compared to 7.5%); and menvaping was a good alternativeShe adds, I think the appealAndie adds, I hadn't reallyunder 1 in 12 (7.6%) peopleexplaining the risks associated were also more likely thanbecause I enjoy the taste and Ifor younger people is to doheard about vaping untilaged 15-17 years had used anwith vaping (e-cigarette use) women to currently use anlike the nicotine hit. The peoplewith its popularity, and thearound year 9 (2019). It gote-cigarette or vaping deviceamong teens are available e-cigarette or vaping devicethat I surround myself withfact that a lot of their peers aremore popular from there, so Iat least once in 2020-21. Priorfrom the quit.org.au website.(2.9% compared to 1.6%). Thevape a lot more than smoke. doing it. Theyll go to a partystarted to see people actuallyto this period, the Australian *name has been changeduse of e-cigarettes or vapingAndie* is an 18-year-oldand people they look up to aredoing it a lot more often. KidsSecondary Students Alcohol^Note: Under-reporting of smoking rates devices was found to be moreschool leaver who is about tovaping; its replaced cigaretteswould do it at school, in theand Drug Survey (ASSAD)and e-cigarette or vaping use in young common in people aged 18-24start her university life afterin that sense. bathrooms because theyhad determined that vapingpeople may have occurred during the than any other age groups, withhaving successfully graduatedAmanda believes thewouldnt get caught there. among teens and young adults2020-21 ABS Census because responses were provided by an adult living in the 4.8% reporting they currentlyfrom secondary school inpopularity of vaping isThe Department ofwas on the rise, with 14% ofsame household (77.3% of people aged use a device. This age groupBairnsdale. She adds, Inprobably because it's nicerEducation has a Smokingrespondents, aged 12 to 1715-17 years were reported on by another was also found to be twice asmy friend group, there wasand tastes better and alsoand Vaping Ban policy, yetyear having tried vaping, andperson in the household) or due to reluctance to report use in cases where likely as people aged 45 yearsonly one person who vapedsmells good. It's very easy tovaping in secondary schoolsalmost half (48%) of whomother household members were present and over to currently use anregularly; but all of my otherdo because you don't needhas become so prolific thathad never smoked tobaccowhen completing the survey. The impact e-cigarette or vaping devicefriends vaped at parties. Iany other resources to do it;in some instances, year 7before doing so. Alarmingly,of children being home-schooled during this period rather than being onsite at (3.2% compared to 1.5%).wanted to know what it waswith smoking, for example,students avoid going into the25% of students who hadschool could also have resulted in lower Nineteen-year-old Amanda* like, since all of my friendsyou need a lighter and ifbathrooms during break times,used e-cigarettes before everrates of incidence.Natural gas disparityMore investmentimpacts rural communities needed in decaying E AST Gippsland Shireunfairly getting stung in astructure disadvantaging ruralpublic dentalCouncil Mayor Cr Markmonopoly environment. There iscommunities.Reeves said increasinglyno opportunity to shop aroundI will also raise the issue with unmanageable costs for naturallike there is in metropolitanmy One Gippsland colleagues gas is impacting East Gippslandareas, he said. (representatives of all other local households and businesses. What stings more is gas isgovernments in Gippsland),T HE average wait time for publiccan ignore no longer.Reports this week, usingbeing sourced from Bass Strait,and with relevant governmentdental care in Victoria hasThe average wait at Central Gippsland data from the Energy Compareusing local workers, and isministers. increased to 26.7 months, the worstHealth Service is 18.9 months and there is website, indicates that peoplebeing pumped past our nose toCompounding the problem fordelays in dental care this decade andno dentist at Bairnsdale Regional Health in towns like Orbost and Lakesbe bought cheaper elsewheresome households is the decisionNationals MP for Gippsland East, TimService currently, which is adding to the Entrance are paying more thanthan what our communities areby the Victorian Government toBull, is calling for more investment fromburden and worsening health outcomes double for natural gas than otherpaying. end native timber harvesting,the State Government. of patients needing treatment.Victorians. Council is not the supplier orplacing significant pressureIt is disappointing, but not surprising,In some cases, we have heard from Cr Reeves said the pricing wasregulator for natural gas. It doeson firewood contractors. Thethe wait times have blown out after theconstituents who have been provided both inequitable and unfair andpurchase natural gas for useavailability and price of firewood,Andrews Government cut funds to itswith vouchers to access to private dental could impact whether businessesin some of its facilities, mainlyas a heating source, is expectedpublic dental allocation in last yearsservices for urgent work, but there is keep their doors open or familiesrecreational centres. Council hasto become increasingly difficultbudget, which is there for all to see, no requirement for these vouchers be heat their homes. forecast an approximate 30 perfor many people in our shire. Mr Bull said. accepted and, in some cases, they have Getting natural gas into somecent increase in its gas costs thisWinter is fast approaching,What would you think the outcome ofbeen refused, leaving the patient with a of our communities, particularlyfinancial year. and these cost-of-living pressuresthis action to be? That is why we made adental dilemma.through the daughter stationThe Mayor said Councilwill be amplified, Cr Reeves said. very significant pre-election commitmentThe government must significantly model, took considerable timewould consider writing toCouncil encourages residentsto increase funds to the service to helpincrease its public dental allocation in and came with its challenges.the ACCC Gas inquiry 2017- with concerns about their naturaladdress the problem. this years budget to reverse the cuts of Now we have it, it appears30 to highlight its concernsgas pricing to contact theirThe Andrews Government remainedlast year and provide an improved service residents and businesses areabout the inequitable pricingretailer, or State and Federal MPs. silent in this area, but it is a problem theyacross the state, Mr Bull said."