A Queensland parliamentary inquiry into reducing rates of e-cigarette use has revealed that more than 80% of disposable vapes sold in Gold Coast stores contain nicotine illegally. The inquiry was prompted by reports of primary school-aged children becoming addicted to vaping products. The director of public and environmental health at the Gold Coast Public Health Unit (GCPHU) stated that the availability of disposable vapes, many of which contain nicotine, has "exploded" since 2021. Nearly 11,000 disposable vapes have been seized by the GCPHU since 2019 in response to complaints from the community. Laboratory tests on 1,518 of those vapes showed 83% illegally contained nicotine. This has raised concerns about nicotine addiction among children, and the disposable vapes have been called a "scourge of the industry" and should be banned.
The Rise of Vaping Among School Children
Joanne Sheehy, the Principal of AB Paterson College on the Gold Coast, stated that e-cigarettes were first noticed on school grounds at the beginning of 2021. She said that "none of the children that were vaping at that point were smokers beforehand." This has prompted the school to incorporate education programs about vaping into its classes, as a response to a visible increase in vaping among students. Ms. Sheehy further added that the use of e-cigarettes started with 14, 15, and 16-year-old kids. This trend is alarming as it indicates that vaping is becoming a gateway for children to become addicted to nicotine.
Illicit Nicotine Content in Disposable Vapes
The acting director of public and environmental health at the Gold Coast Public Health Unit (GCPHU), Anne Cowdry, said that most of the disposable vapes illegally sold in Gold Coast stores contain flavours that appeal to children, such as strawberry and grape. The average amount of nicotine found in each product was about 35,000 to 45,000 milligrams of nicotine per kilogram, and the highest was 190,000 milligrams per kilogram. By comparison, a typical packaged cigarette weighs about one gram and contains between eight and 20 milligrams of nicotine on average. The high amount of nicotine in disposable vapes is designed to get children addicted.
Disposable Vapes: Designed to Addict
Leah Tankard, a vape vendor from Mount Tamborine, told the inquiry that "cheap and nasty disposable vapes" were the "scourge of the industry" and should be banned. Ms Tankard further stated that disposable vapes were often sold in tobacconists, corner stores, newsagents and on social media channels. She added that these disposable vapes were causing an increase in children taking up vaping, and the re-usable vapes that require users to purchase liquid separately and refill were "too much hassle for a child". The disposable vapes are a one-step system so that children can just walk into a store and access that nicotine problem right there. She emphasized that disposable vapes are an adult product, and we don't want them in the hands of children.
Lagging Attitude Towards Vaping Products in Australia
Ms Tankard mentioned that Australia's attitude towards vaping products is lagging behind countries with similar public health systems like New Zealand and the United Kingdom. In the United Kingdom, smokers are being encouraged to swap cigarettes for vapes, with pregnant women being offered financial incentives to help them quit tobacco smoking. Ms Tankard further added that Australia's prescription model for nicotine has been a flop, and it hasn't worked. When the prescription model came in a few years ago, half the market was lost when the black market started up.
Conclusion
The Queensland parliamentary inquiry into reducing rates of e-cigarette use has revealed alarming facts about the rise of vaping among school children, the illicit nicotine content in disposable vapes, and the disposable vapes' design to addict children. The inquiry has also raised concerns about Australia's attitude towards vaping products, which is lagging behind countries with similar public health systems like New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Disposable vapes should be banned to prevent children from becoming addicted to nicotine, and the government should adopt policies that encourage smokers to switch to vapes.
FAQs
What is the Queensland parliamentary inquiry into reducing rates of e-cigarette use?
The Queensland parliamentary inquiry was established to reduce rates of e-cigarette use amid reports of primary school-aged children becoming addicted to vaping products.What percentage of disposable vapes sold in Gold Coast stores illegally contain nicotine?
More than 80% of disposable vapes sold in Gold Coast stores contain nicotine illegally.How much nicotine is found in disposable vapes?
The average amount of nicotine found in each disposable vape product is about 35,000 to 45,000 milligrams of nicotine per kilogram, and the highest was 190,000 milligrams per kilogram.Should disposable vapes be banned?
Yes, disposable vapes should be banned to prevent children from becoming addicted to nicotine.How can the government reduce rates of e-cigarette use?
The government can reduce rates of e-cigarette use by adopting policies that encourage smokers to switch to vapes and banning disposable vapes to prevent children from becoming addicted to nicotine.