The South Western Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force (SWRDATF) hosted the first 'Vaping: Leadership & Learning for a Whole School Approach' event on Thursday 14^th March in the Osprey Hotel. Supported by Healthy Ireland, Slaintecare Healthy Communities, Comhairle na nÓg, InSync, HSE, Parents Council and SPHE Teacher representatives the event saw delegates from second level schools across Kildare gather to discuss this critical issue facing our society, schools, and young people.

Steven Joyce, Development Worker with the SWRDATF, coordinating this initial conversation and information sharing on Vaping within Kildare, shared that he felt it ‘was a pivotal step toward enlightening our community about the often-overlooked effects of vaping’ adding, ‘We felt that it was important to understand why our schoolchildren are especially vulnerable to its lure, and how its impacting their bodies and minds.’

Speakers on the day shed a light on this critical issue, fostering awareness of the physical and mental implications of vaping. Martina Blake, HSE Lead Tobacco Free Ireland, shared the evidence available on the health implications of Vaping. Addressing this new glamourized trend amongst young people and adults, Martina spoke of physiological impact of nicotine present in vapes ‘some young people might consider nicotine to be medically harmless, but nicotine actually speeds up your blood pressure’ adding the potential to develop an addiction due to the high levels present in vapes ‘ nicotine is highly addictive so after one or two vapes, you can actually start that nicotine addiction process and it changes the brain chemistry for life.’

Joseph Leonard, National Association of Principals and Deputies was greeted by nodding heads around the room when he spoke of the stark increase in students Vaping, sharing comparisons with the issue of students smoking in past academic years ‘Previously, I would have been able to tell you the number of students who smoked in our school, I knew their names. Truth is, I haven’t a clue who vapes, but I suspect it is very large numbers.’

Bringing the voice of the young person to the stage, representatives from Kildare Comhairle na nÓg, shared their plans to discuss and address the issue of Vaping over the next two years. Highlighted as a priority issue for the group at their AGM in 2023, representatives spoke of their perception of the correlation between Mental Health and Vaping ‘Young People might turn to vapes if they aren’t in the best mental health capacity’ sharing concerns that ‘once they start, they’ll be reliant on them.’ 

Sharing some positive news of progress of the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act 2023, James Lawless, TD, Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, informed the group the law prohibiting the sale of nicotine inhaling products such as e-cigarettes to under 18 years old was enacted in late 2023. With further enactments of the Bill due to target the sale and marketing of vapes.

Concluding the event, the SWRDATF launched their new Vaping Awareness poster campaign. Raising awareness of the impact Vaping can have on your, Mental Health, Lungs, Environment and Money. These resources have now been made available to all secondary schools in Kildare alongside other resources available through HSE Health Promotion https://www.healthpromotion.ie/hse.ie.