Leading public health and youth experts from across Australia will gather in Perth today for the Vaping and Beyond: Tackling Nicotine Use Among Young People Symposium.
Hosted by Cancer Council WA through its Healthway-funded Clear the Air® program, the Symposium comes amid growing concern the commercial tobacco and nicotine industry is evolving its tactics to hook a new generation not only through vaping but also new and emerging nicotine products.
Cancer Council WA Cancer Prevention and Research Director, Melissa Ledger, said while youth vaping shows early signs of stabilising, Big Tobacco is already promoting more products, including nicotine pouches.
"Big Tobacco is a shape shifter," Ms Ledger said. "As soon as one product is regulated, another emerges."
"We are already seeing nicotine pouches (oral nicotine products placed between the lip and gum) increasingly promoted and accessed in Australia.
"These products are designed to look harmless, appealing and socially acceptable, but they still carry the risk of serious health harms and nicotine addiction.
Some of these products can contain nicotine levels equivalent to around 20 cigarettes.
Ms Ledger said the Symposium would also feature new research examining the future cancer burden linked to adolescent smoking and vaping.
"Strong tobacco control has prevented tens of thousands of future cancer cases and deaths, but emerging nicotine trends now threaten to undermine that progress," she said.
"Local WA researcher, Dr Renee Carey, will present modelling showing that reduced youth smoking in Australia has already prevented an estimated 71,700 future cancer cases and 42,700 future cancer deaths.
"However, rising nicotine use and increasing susceptibility to smoking among young people could still lead to up to 2,330 additional future cancer cases and 1,600 future deaths.
"Youth vaping is projected to contribute to around 7,250 future cancer cases and 5,000 future cancer deaths through progression to smoking.
"Protecting young people from vaping and nicotine addiction remains critical to preventing future disease and cancer burden in Australia."
Healthway CEO Colin Smith said Healthway was committed to supporting Cancer Council WA to deliver the award-winning Clear the Air® program.
"This Symposium will bring together some of Australia's leading experts to examine what is driving youth nicotine use, the health impacts, and what governments, schools and communities can do to better protect young people," Mr Smith said.
Sessions at the symposium will explore:
- prevention and support programs in schools, sporting clubs and other youth-focused settings
- the impact of Australia's new vaping laws
- nicotine use among Aboriginal young people
- vaping among gender and sexuality diverse young people
- youth-focused anti-vaping campaigns
- vaping and smoking in youth custody settings.
View the full itinerary for the Vaping and Beyond: Tackling Nicotine Use Among Young People Symposium.
