Our local approach
LATEST NEWS: Read about our local approach to youth vaping in our latest Youth Vaping Newsletter
The NSW Chief Health Officer has identified reducing the harms of e-cigarettes as a key priority for NSW Health. While most people do not vape, there has been an increase in vaping (or e-cigarette) usage across our region, particularly among young people.
It will be some time before we have clear evidence on the long-term harms of vaping but what we do know is that vapes (whether they contain nicotine or not) contain harmful and toxic chemicals, including those found in cleaning products, nail polish remover, weed killer and bug spray.
The Mid North Coast Local Health District Health Promotion team is taking an informed, collaborative and community-led approach to illegal vaping on the North Coast of NSW.
There is a high level of concern in the community about the impact of vaping on young people, and it is important to understand the extent of this uptake to assist in informing appropriate responses.
To open and endorse the North Coast Youth Vaping Forums in 2023, Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant provided a pre-recorded address to affirm NSW Health’s commitment to protecting young people from the harms of vaping.
In mid-2022 Mid North Coast Local Health District (MNCLHD) Health Promotion partnered with North Coast Population Public Health and Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) Health Promotion to take a coordinated and community-informed approach to initiate action to protect young people from the harms of e-cigarettes.
The aim of the Taskforce is to take a collaborative and community-informed approach to protect young people, under 18 years of age on the NSW Mid and North Coast, from the harms of e-cigarettes.
The Taskforce is developing a regional action plan around youth vaping, which will be launched in early 2024.
Taskforce membership includes representation from:
- MNCLHD Health Promotion
- North Coast Population Public Health
- NNSWLHD Health Promotion
- Ministry of Health
- NSW Police
- Department of Education
- Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools
- 02 Living Tackling Indigenous Smoking
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre: University of NSW
- Department of Regional NSW
- Healthy North Coast (PHN)
- Cancer Institute NSW.
Regular taskforce updates will be developed to share information and update the community on the progress of the North Coast Youth Vaping Taskforce.