A new pilot scheme has been launched at Liskeard School and Community College in Cornwall, aimed at reducing the number of pupils who smoke or vape. This project comes as national statistics reveal that vaping is becoming more popular among teenagers. If successful, the scheme will be replicated in other schools and communities.
The primary focus of the project is to prevent young people from taking up smoking, but it also aims to discourage vaping. Project bosses stated that work would include education with pupils about the consequences, offering support, and workshops. Local shops have also been inspected and advised by trading standards.
Vaping among secondary school children is believed to be rising, with nearly one in five 15-year-olds using e-cigarettes in 2021, a survey by NHS Digital suggested. Among 11-15-year-olds, 9% say they are vapers - up from 6% in 2018.
Why is the Project Needed?
Michelle Nightingale, from Healthy Cornwall, who works on the project, said that there has been “concern from a lot of schools” about vaping. Although vaping is a useful tool for adults to quit smoking, it’s not okay for young people to vape. It’s only a small amount of young people, but we need to be clear on that message.
The work also aims to help adults, including parents and school staff, to quit smoking. Liskeard was chosen because of local health inequalities, including “unfair and avoidable differences in people’s health, healthcare services, and opportunities to lead a healthy lifestyle,” the council said.
Most vapes and e-cigarettes contain some nicotine but do not contain tobacco, which is known to produce harmful side-effects. A government study in 2022 found that vaping is “not risk-free” but “in the short and medium term, vaping poses a small fraction of the risks of smoking”. However, health experts said more research is needed to find out about potential effects over many years.
Vaping and the Law
Only those aged 18 and over can buy vapes or e-cigarettes. Certain ingredients, such as caffeine and taurine, are banned. Nicotine ingredient warnings must appear on packaging, and packaging should be childproof. All e-cigarette and e-liquids containing nicotine have to be certified by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) before they can be sold in the UK. Any product that is not listed should be returned to the shop where it was bought, or to your local Trading Standards office. Anyone’s experience of suspected side effects from using vapes can be sent to the MHRA via the Yellow Card scheme. Nicotine-free e-cigarettes do not have to be certified by the MHRA - they are subject to product safety regulations by Trading Standards.
Conclusion
The anti-smoking project at Liskeard School and Community College is a step in the right direction towards reducing smoking and vaping among young people. The initiative will educate pupils on the harmful effects of smoking and vaping while offering support and workshops. Local shops have also been inspected and advised by trading standards. If successful, the scheme could be replicated in other schools and communities.
FAQs
Q1. What is the anti-smoking project at Liskeard School and Community College?
The project aims to reduce the number of pupils who smoke or vape, prevent young people from taking up smoking, and discourage vaping.
Q2. Why was Liskeard chosen for the pilot scheme?
Liskeard was chosen because of local health inequalities, including “unfair and avoidable differences in people’s health, healthcare services, and opportunities to lead a healthy lifestyle,” the council said.
**Q3. Is vaping legal for young people? **
No, only those aged 18 and over can buy vapes or e-cigarettes. Certain ingredients, such as caffeine and taurine, are also banned, and nicotine ingredient warnings must appear on packaging.
Q4. What should I do if I experience side effects from using vapes?
If you experience any suspected side effects from using vapes, you can send a report to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) via the Yellow Card scheme.
Q5. What is the government doing to regulate vaping?
The government has taken action by restricting sales and advertising of vaping products. All e-cigarette and e-liquids containing nicotine must be certified by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) before they can be sold in the UK.
