ACT Greens spokesperson for Young People, Laura Nuttall MLA, has launched a new survey to better understand young people's vaping habits across the ACT and consider better access to support services.
Miss Nuttall says federal reforms to e-cigarettes attempting to curb access to disposable vapes have come into place without proper consultation with young people, who are more likely to use vapes than older Canberrans.
"Young people deserve to have the right support to live their best and healthiest lives. This survey will give young people in the ACT a much-needed voice to inform decision-making on their health needs," Miss Nuttall said.
"We know young people make up a significant proportion of vape users, yet they have not been meaningfully consulted in the latest Federal Government reforms that ban disposable vapes.
"I want to hear from local young people firsthand on their concerns, experiences and ideas to better support them as the federal reforms come into effect.
"Vapes containing nicotine have been banned in Australia since 2009 yet we still see them being used across our community. Bans don't always have the impact that's intended, so it's really important young people have a chance to say how we can best support their health."
The two-minute survey is anonymous to encourage participation. It is publicly available on Laura Nuttall's Facebook page and can be accessed here.
Background
The 2021 ACT General Health Survey found that young people between 16-24 were significantly more likely than older Canberrans to have ever used vapes.
Reforms to the Therapeutic Goods Legislation Amendment (Vaping) Regulations 2023 include:
- From 1 January 2024, the importation of all disposable vapes is banned, with very limited exceptions.
- From 1 March 2024 there will be a ban on the importation of all vapes without an import licence and permit from the Office of Drug Control.
