Rising youth e-cigarette use in New Zealand leaves affected families even more distressed

Recent health survey data from New Zealand shows that the proportion of teenagers who use e-cigarettes daily has nearly doubled in a year, with the usage rate among 15 to 17-year-olds increasing from 8.3% to 15.4%. This phenomenon is having a severe impact on families.

Mani Wilton, co-founder of Vape-Free Kids NZ, stated that this new data confirms what they have heard from thousands of concerned families.

Wilton said, "The stories of families coping with their children's addiction to e-cigarettes are heartbreaking. We are disappointed that this issue continues to be ignored while the government focuses on repealing legislation that could have made a difference. They are disregarding all research and providing no evidence for their ideas."

"Family situations are critical; they are shut out from smoking cessation services and powerless against the overwhelming presence of e-cigarette retailers in every place children frequent—including outside schools."

One mother shared, "Our 15-year-old child first tried e-cigarettes when a friend in ninth grade shared theirs with him. He was only 12 at the time. Three years later, he is addicted to nicotine. He has tried to quit twice and is currently trying to quit for the third time with nicotine gum and patches prescribed by a doctor. The situation is not optimistic. He has developed lung issues due to heavy e-cigarette use and continued to vape during three bouts of bronchitis last year."

"I feel angry, shocked, and desperate. The burden of addiction is very heavy and real. He feels self-loathing due to his addiction, experiences mood swings and anger when trying to quit, lies to his parents, engages in illegal behavior, and it is all real and terrible when adults directly sell him e-cigarette liquid at the counter when he goes out to buy it."

Another parent stated, "What our child is experiencing is devastating. Since my 13-year-old daughter started high school, e-cigarettes have played a significant role in her life. At first, I felt heartbroken, then angry, tearful, and worried, followed by shame because my 13-year-old daughter is vaping. Her gymnastics has also been affected. She is too tired, lacks energy, and has shortness of breath. She has now decided to quit. I asked her why she does it. She simply said she likes it, likes the taste, wants to do it, and everyone is doing it. How can I stop this? It is everywhere. Anyone, of any age, can easily get e-cigarettes."

Vape-Free Kids NZ has been calling for the government to do better and is shocked that this issue was not prioritized in the government's 100-day plan.

Wilton said, "We need the government to provide more support to help struggling families. Smoke-free services are not funded and cannot support e-cigarette users or those under 18."

"The availability of e-cigarettes also needs urgent attention. Children can easily access e-cigarettes, with stores on every corner and a severe lack of enforcement of regulations."

"Both major parties promised to tackle e-cigarettes before the election, but now that the dust has settled, all of this has evaporated like e-cigarette vapor. Worse still, repealing smoke-free laws will only make it easier for those children already addicted to nicotine from e-cigarettes to access cigarettes."

"Our families are on the front lines of this epidemic, but the government is not listening to what we are trying to tell them. These numbers tragically reflect the situation we have been warning about from the beginning. Their inaction is insufficient, and our children are paying the price for it."