The Challenge
Aotearoa has seen an increase in vaping use by rangatahi in recent years.
The percentage of young people vaping daily has more than tripled between 2019 and 2021*. Over the same period daily smoking rates have decreased significantly*.
*ASH Year 10 Survey (2021)This has led us to ask...
Why are more young people vaping?
What role does vaping play in their lives, school communities and homes?
Where should efforts to reduce vaping-related harm begin?
Why are more young people vaping?
What role does vaping play in their lives, school communities and homes?
Where should efforts to reduce vaping-related harm begin?
It's complicateD
Turns out the answer isn't so simple.
There’s lots of complexity surrounding the issue of youth vaping in Aotearoa.
The Problems
Daily vaping is increasing
Quantitative data* shows daily vaping use amongst young people is growing dramatically, but these data sets do not reveal what’s driving the shift.
*ASH Year 10 Snapshot Survey 2021
INCORRECT INFORMATION IS EVERYWHERE
Myths and misconceptions about vaping are pervasive – from inaccurate horror stories, through to suggestions that vaping is ‘healthy’.
VAPING CAN HELP SMOKERS QUIT
While vaping is not harmless, it is much less harmful than smoking and can be a useful tool for smokers who are trying to quit.
ADVERTISERS HAVE TARGETED YOUNG PEOPLE
Advertising of vaping products was banned in New Zealand from 11 November 2020. However, before this legislation came into force, vape advertising often targeted young people.
VAPES ARE READILY AVAILABLE
Vaping products cannot be sold to people under the age of 18. Despite this, they are widely available in dairies, supermarkets and specialist vaping stores, which are places often positioned near schools and shopping areas easily accessible by young people.
THE LONG-TERM RISKS AREN’T KNOWN
Vaping has some known side effects like nausea, coughing, and headaches. Vapes are much less harmful than smoking, though – in part because they deliver nicotine in e-liquid. While still addictive, nicotine does not cause cancer. The risks associated with long-term vaping, however, are not yet clear*.
*Vaping FactsPUNITIVE APPROACHES ARE COMMON
Schools and whānau are doing their best to respond to the challenge. However, approaches which punish or shame rangatahi for vaping fail to address what’s driving the behaviour – and miss the opportunity to help young people develop critical decision-making skills.
‘QUIT VAPE’ APPROACHES AREN’T RESONATING
Because many attempts to stop youth vaping aren’t grounded in young people’s realities, motivations, needs, or desires – they are failing to connect with rangatahi.
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Our process
