The Fine Gael senator said education programs highlighting the dangers of e-cigarettes needed to be developed and rolled out in primary schools.
Sen. Tim Lombardo said the alarming increase in the number of children vaping requires attention and children need to be educated to make informed decisions about their health. Ta.
“The current primary school curriculum has no provision for educating children about this new and worrying trend, and that needs to change,” he said.
“The brilliant BT Young Scientist Project by two students from Mary Immaculata Community College in Dunmanway surveyed 100 students aged 12 to 19 and uncovered some surprising statistics. Among other things: This is very important, as 30% of students surveyed reported using e-cigarettes. It was also found that they were starting to smoke. This highlights the need for educational programs in elementary schools.
“The project also found that 53.3% of students who vaped also admitted to smoking. Additionally, 52.6% of students who vaped admitted that they started smoking after vaping. The study revealed clear disparities in education, with 56.7% of students who smoked indicating that they received no prior information about the dangers of vaping during their elementary school years. Ta.
“Research conducted by the Irish Heart Foundation shows that teenagers who use vaping are three to five times more likely to start smoking than those who have never used vaping.”[1] That's why it's important to have the right framework in place for teachers to engage with students to ensure they are empowered in the decision-making process.
“The draft updated specification on welfare, including SPHE at primary level, is currently being considered by the National Curriculum Evaluation Council. It is essential that this updated curriculum includes a module on e-cigarettes, and the Minister for Education We will continue to pursue this,” concluded Senator Lombard.
[1] IHF-E-Cigarette-Briefing-Document.pdf (irishheart.ie)
