Teen concerned about Ministry of Health vaping support

Napier year 13 student Bella Spiers doesn't believe vaping or smoking products should be supported after Ministry of Health launch 'Vaping Facts' website. Photo / File

A Napier teenager has questioned the Ministry of Health's support of electronic cigarettes after the creation of a "Vaping Facts" website.

Associate Health Minister Jenny Salesa recently announced that the New Zealand specific "Vaping Website" was live, with the intention to offer key facts about wairehu (vaping), information on wairehu vs smoking and to contextualise it as a tool to quit smoking.

Wairehu or vaping products are being touted as one avenue to helping New Zealand reach its ambitious target of being smokefree by 2025.

Napier year 13 student Bella Spiers said she understood the intention of the website, but questioned the reasoning behind it.

"As far as the Government is concerned... shouldn't the end goal be to put a stop to nicotine altogether, rather than having one or the other?" She said.

"I think it's weird they're promoting one from the other because I've been researching stuff like this and I'm pretty sure that when people use things like nicotine patches to get off cigarettes, there's a 10 per cent chance of them becoming addicted to them.

"Whereas if people use vaping to come off cigarettes I think there's something like a 50 per cent chance that they'll get addicted and carry on vaping.

"Just because something is safer than something else, it doesn't necessarily mean that it is in fact 'safe' or better than cigarettes."

She also questioned the use of different chemicals used in vaping products and said people should still be aware of what they're inhaling.

The vaping website itself also quoted that regarding safety, "categorical statements about the toxicity of electronic cigarettes are not possible because of the large number of devices and fluids available and the frequent addition of new products to the market".

Spiers recently launched a petition in the hopes that the Government will put a stop to vape and e-cigarette companies targeting teenagers in advertising on social media.

"I believe that many people often turn to vaping as a preferable, less toxic alternative to smoking but there may be still an awful lot of harm caused by the products in vaping."

She so far has gained more than 350 signatures for the cause and hopes the number will continue to grow.

"I wouldn't want shops to be dedicated to vaping in terms of advertising. I wouldn't want anything to make it more appealing to youth and a lot of them use social media where a majority of influence comes from."