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One in five youngsters in Gwent aged between 11 and 16 are reported to have tried vaping, according to a recent survey.
The survey was carried out by the School Health Research Network, which is a national body focusing on improving young people’s health and wellbeing.
Why is Caerphilly in Gwent?
Caerphilly County Borough was formed on April 1, 1996, by the merger of the Rhymney Valley district of Mid Glamorgan with the Islwyn borough of Gwent.
Administratively, for local services such as the police and health, the borough now falls under a wider region referred to as Gwent. This comprises the council areas of Caerphilly, Newport, Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent and Monmouthshire.
Professor Tracy Daszkiewicz, recently appointed Director for Public Health at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, said there is a “frightening rise” in the number of young people vaping across Gwent.
Prof Daszkiewicz said: “Although some use vaping as an effective tool to help people quit the very harmful effect of tobacco, a lot of E-Cigarettes still contain highly addictive nicotine and other chemicals.
“We want to advise young people not to start vaping and so our message is simple – ‘Don’t Smoke? Why would you start vaping?’.”
Eryl Powell, the health board’s consultant lead for early years, children and young people, said: “It is important to remind people that vaping is not harmless, with short-term effects of coughing, dizziness, sore throats and headaches being reported – and the long-term effects are not yet known.”
The health board’s public health team has created guidance, which aims to help schools and colleges become smoke-free.
Speaking about the guidance, Ms Powell said: “This local guidance document provides schools with the latest information to enable them to take a whole school approach to becoming smoke free.
“This includes actions schools can take around vaping, as well as advice they can share with parents and the community.”
She added: “It is illegal to sell E-Cigarettes to under 18s. If you are aware of retailers in your community selling any tobacco products or e-cigarettes to children under the age of 18, please report them to Trading Standards.
“You can do this by visiting: NO IFS. NO BUTTS.”
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