According to news from ellington.scoop on September 7, in June, the New Zealand Ministry of Education showed that between 2019 and 2022, the number of school suspensions due to smoking and vapes increased by nearly 300%, and in Wellington, it increased by 447%.
Asthma and Respiratory Foundation New Zealand chief executive Ms Letitia Harding said these were not isolated cases and sadly it was becoming a challenge for more and more families.
“We’ve heard of family members vaping young people because they feel it’s easier to manage than letting their kids smoke vapes,” she said. “It just goes to show that there’s still a lot of education needed to inform people about these products.” It’s highly addictive and not without dangers.”
Sharon Pihema, the foundation’s Māori community liaison officer, said she had held workshops for Year 5 and 6 students because some had started vaping.
“We need to start having conversations with young people early on to try to identify problems before they arise. What’s missing from the whole equation right now is how to quit vaping – that support is really lacking.”
GUUTUU Vapes pointed out that publicizing and popularizing the harm of vapes to teenagers and taking effective actions to help teenagers quit vapes have become urgent issues for community managers and parents alike. This article will explore how to deal with the issue of vaping among teenagers and provide some effective ways to quit smoking.
Table of contents
1. Understand the harm of vapes to teenagers
2. Strengthen publicity and education
3. Provide support and resources
4. Establish strict policies and regulations
5. Parents’ role and involvement
1. Understand the harm of vapes to teenagers
First, community managers and parents need to have a deeper understanding of the dangers of vapes to adolescent health. Nicotine and other chemicals in vapes may have negative effects on adolescent brain development and mental health. Nicotine is an addictive substance that can cause dependence and withdrawal symptoms, as well as adversely affect academic, social, and mental health.
2. Strengthen publicity and education
Publicity and education is an important means to help young people realize the dangers of vapes and avoid using them. Community managers and schools should strengthen publicity on the dangers of vapes, provide accurate and scientific information to teenagers, and let them understand that vapes are not a harmless alternative.
3. Provide support and resources
Providing support and resources to teens who already use vapes is also critical. Schools can set up counseling services to help students understand the dangers of vapes and provide smoking cessation programs and psychological support. Additionally, professional smoking cessation counselors and medical professionals can provide guidance to help teens quit vaping.
4. Establish strict policies and regulations
Community managers and policymakers should develop and enforce strict policies and regulations to restrict the sale and use of vapes. This includes restricting advertising and sales channels for vapes and increasing penalties for illegal sales to minors.
5. Parents’ role and involvement
Parents play an important role in helping teenagers quit smoking. They should work with schools and communities to provide support and supervision. Encourage open dialogue so children feel safe sharing their questions and confusion with their parents. At the same time, parents should set an example and become role models for their children by not smoking or using vapes.
6. Seek professional help
For some teens, quitting smoking can be a difficult process. In this case, parents should seek professional help and consult with a smoking cessation specialist or medical provider to develop a personalized smoking cessation plan and provide necessary support.
Summarize:
Faced with a 300% increase in school suspensions among New Zealand students due to vaping and smoking, community managers and parents alike need to work together to deal with this pressing issue. Adolescents can be helped to quit vapes by in-depth understanding of the dangers of vapes to adolescents, strengthening publicity and education, providing support and resources, formulating strict policies and regulations, parents’ role and involvement, and seeking professional help.
In this process, the key is to establish an open, understanding and supportive environment where teenagers feel safe and comfortable and willing to share their problems with parents and schools. At the same time, governments and policymakers should also strengthen supervision to ensure that the sales and promotion of vapes will not have a negative impact on young people.
By working together, we can help young people stay away from the dangers of vapes and protect their health and future development. Quitting smoking can be a challenging process, but with professional support and appropriate measures, we can help them establish healthy habits and build a strong foundation for their future.
Tags: How to quit vaping，New Zealand students suspended for vaping, smoking