Comp backs anti-vaping callout

BENDIGO Community Health Services, along with the City of Greater Bendigo and Sports Focus, are running a competition for young people to help come up with a vape and smoke free campaign.  

BCHS senior health promotion officer Siobhan Sullivan said people are being increasingly surrounded by vaping content on social media and that entries could focus on why the pastime is dangerous or promoting smoke-free areas. 

“The aim of our competition is to educate our community about the health harms of vaping and smoking, the benefits of quitting and the importance of ensuring smoke and vape free areas,” she said. 

“There is limited content about the risks and harms of vaping relating to young people’s health on social media, and we hope by using the designs and voices of young people, we will help prevent them and their peers from vaping. 

“We are asking local young people to make a short video, design a poster or write slogans which will be shared on the Greater Bendigo Let’s Talk website and across social media platforms. 

“Some vapes contain as much nicotine as a pack of 20 regular cigarettes, plus many other cancer-causing chemicals, and we know that people who vape are more likely to then take up cigarette smoking.” 

In Australia, it is illegal to sell e-cigarettes containing nicotine, and authorities claiming many vapes said to be nicotine-free do in fact have the chemical.  

It is illegal to sell any e-cigarettes to people under the age of 18.  

Ms Sullivan said the project is aligned with the City’s strategy to reduce the harms of vaping and smoking, why it is good to quit, and the promotion of smoke and vape-free locations. 

Entries are open until 1 December and visit bit.ly/3Qt9ioD for more information.