Young vapers rise as smoking rates fall

People over the age of 16 lighting up every day fell from 9.2 per cent in 2020 to 8.2 per cent in 2021, according to the 2021 NSW Population Health survey.

NSW's Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said she was impressed some 23 per cent of NSW residents were now successful former smokers, and urged more people to kick the habit. "The NSW quitters group now numbers about 1.5 million, which is amazing progress because we know quitting can be hard," she said.

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Of those who still smoke, 41 per cent are serious about quitting in the next six months and one in five (19 per cent) plan to quit in the next month, according to 2021's NSW Smoking & Health Survey.

Quitting smoking is one of the most important things a person can do for their health, Dr Chant explained. "It will reduce your risk of 16 different types of cancer, coronary heart disease, stroke and other debilitating conditions," she said.

While the number of smokers has dropped, there has been a growth in the use of vapes, or e-cigarettes, among young people. More than one in 10 young people aged 16 to 24 vaped between 2020 and 2021 - double the rate of 2019-2020.

"This is a worrying trend for our young people because vapes can contain many harmful chemicals and toxins, even if they are nicotine free," Dr Chant said. "We know vapes can harm your health in the short-term, but the long-term effects are largely unknown."

Claudine Watson-Kyme recently spoke to the Northern Beaches Review after her 15 year-old daughter Sophie became addicted to vaping and required hospitalisation for a severe asthma episode exacerbated (and potentially induced) by her use of disposable vapes.

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She wants to warn other parents about the dangers of e-cigarettes, which often include nicotine in their enticing flavours such as bubble-gum, cotton candy and pink lemonade - even when they say they don't. "I thought I was a present, vigilant mother who had tried to educate her about the dangers of smoking and vaping," she said. "I was shocked and devastated that my beautiful young daughter has to contend with an addiction that should never have been so easy to develop. Young people are being exploited by companies who are largely unknown."

Dr Chant said the growth of vaping has the potential to undermine decades of tobacco-control work in Australia. "My message to young people who vape: Please quit today and know there is support available," she said.

People wanting support can call Quitline on 13 78 48, or speak with their GP.

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