A GIRLS’ school is asking parents to work with them to tackle vaping amid growing numbers of young Islanders turning to e-cigarettes.
Jersey College for Girls has written to inform parents and carers of their “crucial involvement” in tackling the “serious issue”, as the government considers a ban on disposable vapes.
Statistics Jersey’s Opinions and Lifestyle Survey, which asked around 1,500 Islanders about their habits, health and views, recently revealed that half of those between 16 to 34 had experimented with vaping.
And the 2021 Jersey Children and Young People Survey found that 58% of 16- to 17-year-olds had tried e-cigarettes, with about a third using them occasionally or regularly – despite laws against selling vapes to under-18s in Jersey.
Statistics from the UK show that the number of young people vaping is rising year on year.
In the letter to parents, head of lower school at JCG Lauren Devine said: “Your child’s health and wellbeing is of paramount importance to us, and we consider adolescent vaping to be a serious issue.”
The letter threatened suspension if students were found vaping on school grounds, saying: “At JCG, we are committed to creating a safe and healthy learning environment for all our students.
“We will continue to educate students about the risks associated with vaping and the importance of making informed decisions.
“As part of our Supporting Student Behaviour policy the possession or use of a vape or e-cigarette on the college campus could constitute grounds for a suspension from school.”
It ended with an appeal to parents, writing: “As parents and guardians, your involvement is crucial in addressing this issue.
“We encourage you to have an open dialogue with your child about the risks of vaping, and honest conversations about their experiences and concerns that they may have.
“Through this dialogue, you can help stop or prevent your child from making uninformed decisions that could impact their health in the future.”
A joint investigation by the Jersey Evening Post and Bailiwick Express revealed how sweet-inspired flavours, highlighter-style packaging, and a lack of regulation meaning products that are illegal in the UK can still be sold locally had helped spawn what one local doctor described as a “generation of nicotine-addicted kids” in Jersey.
Ministers last year announced plans to ban disposable vapes, which they said was for “both environmental and health-related reasons”.
The proposed ban will be subject to consultation, but could be introduced through an extension of the Single Use Plastics Law.
