Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch has welcomed a funding injection of $6.8M from the NSW Government to crack down on the sale of illegal vapes and increase support for vape-addicted young people.
“Regulation is one step in the right direction, but this next action is a necessary step towards getting illegal vapes off the streets and helping young people understand the impacts of vaping,” Tesch said.
An amount of $4.3M over three years has been assigned to bolstering compliance and enforcement, to ensure the state meets its responsibilities for retail, wholesale, manufacturing and pharmaceutical controls on vaping products.
A further $2.5M is being invested in the next 12 months to increase services to help young vapers to quit.
This includes a new digital platform, enhancements to the iCanQuit platform and an online learning module for youth services state-wide.
Alarming research from NSW Health has shown that non-smokers who use e-cigarettes or vapes are three times more likely to go on to smoke traditional tobacco cigarettes than people who have never vaped.
The research also found that in young people, nicotine can cause changes to brain development, impaired learning and memory, and may worsen stress, depression and anxiety.
“It is important to continue the fight against illegal vapes, particularly to protect children and young people from the dangers of vaping,” Tesch said.
From January 1 to June 30 this year, NSW Health seized a record 187,000 products, up from 61,000 at the same time last year.
More than 5,000 inspections have been conducted, with about 369,000 nicotine vapes and e-liquids seized, with an estimated street value of more than $11.8M.
During the week of beginning September 5, when NSW Health undertook a targeted campaign to crack down on illicit vapes, 23,247 vaping devices were seized with a street value of more than $695,000.
There is a continued crackdown by NSW Health upon retailers who illegally sell nicotine vapes.
“It is pleasing to see the NSW Government is taking strong action to stamp out vaping – particularly among our young people – through stronger legislation, enforcement, education and support,” Tesch said.
“I encourage concerned residents who suspect a tobacco or e-cigarette retailer is breaking the law, to lodge a complaint.”
Tobacco or e-cigarette (vape) complaints can be lodged at the NSW Health’s online complaints portal.
Helpful resources for young people who are vaping are available at www.health.nsw.gov.au/vaping
Source:
Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch