The HSE’s new youth vaping and nicotine prevention campaign was formally launched at Presentation De La Salle College in Bagenalstown earlier today.
This campaign, which is highlighting the risks of youth vaping and nicotine use, was launched by the HSE Tobacco Free Ireland Programme, Minister for Public Health, Well Being and the National Drugs Strategy Jennifer Murnane O’Connor TD (FG), along with students, teachers and health specialists.
Michael Hickey, the Principal of Presentation De La Salle College, Bagenalstown, said: “Our school community has welcomed this new campaign and the introduction of strong, national legislation that will ban the sale of disposable vapes and restrict how these products are marketed and advertised. Our school community and schools across Ireland are committed to educating our students about the risks and harmful effects of vaping and nicotine use.”
Michael spoke to KCLR News at the launch:
Teenagers and young people are more at risk of the negative effects of nicotine, including problems with attention and learning, mood, impulse control and anxiety along with sleeping and mental health difficulties.
From a medical perspective, it can cause damage to your heart, lungs, teeth and gums, the developing brain and blood vessels. Over time these risks may cause diseases including heart disease, lung disease and cancer.
Minister Murnane O’Connor said the Government is committed to protecting children and young people from the harms caused by nicotine use.
She stated: “We are bringing in new laws that will protect our children from the harms of current and future nicotine products, marketed so very aggressively to children.
“We have already banned the sale of vapes to under 18s and will extend this ban to all nicotine products as well as introducing restrictions on vape flavours and packaging. I am also working with Minister (Jennifer) Carroll MacNeill to introduce a complete ban on the retail sale of disposable vapes.
The Minister was interviewed by KCLR News prior to the campaign’s formal launch:
For the first time, the HSE has worked with content creators to share the message about vaping prevention and to explain how vaping can impact mental, physical and oral health.
Kasey Campion (with 170,000 TikTok followers and 37,500 followers on Instagram) is one of the content creators who has come on board for the campaign. She spoke to KCLR at Presentation De La Salle College today:
Students themselves are also highlighting the risks associated with vaping and nicotine use. Emily Murphy and PJ McHugh told KCLR News about whey they were keen to get involved in the new campaign:
Vaping use in those aged under 18 has increased in recent years with research suggesting that about one in five teenagers vape.
“Children and young people are more vulnerable and at risk of the negative effects of vaping and nicotine use,” said Martina Blake, the HSE’s National Lead for Tobacco Free Ireland.
“We have designed a campaign that speaks directly to young people about the risk of vaping, and to people who can make a difference and have an influence on young people such as parents and guardians, teachers and sports coaches. This campaign aims to contribute, alongside policy, to reversing these trends.”
