Dean of Students | Mr Damien Cuddihy
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the use of e-cigarettes in the 15-24 year age bracket has doubled in the three years to 2019. I am very concerned about the 2021/22 statistics when reports are published in two years.
As you would be aware from conversations in the media or with your sons, the prevalence of vaping has exploded in the last 18 months in Brisbane schools. Several students have moved quickly to adopt the view that vaping is now a normalised aspect of adolescent life. The current feedback that I am receiving from our older students is that large numbers of people are vaping at any social gathering on a Saturday night. As parents, we need to plan to address this issue with our children. We can’t avoid the topic on this one. Here are some ideas from a recent article called Vaping: Risks, what parents need to know.
Talking to Teens: The key to every potentially tricky teen conversation is listening more than talking. The outcome you are looking for is to continue having open discussions about the topic.
Stay Calm: Try to remain calm when dealing with a vaping use issue with your son. Preload him with an 'If I find these. I’m going to confiscate them because I need to keep you safe' approach. Punitive measures in isolation will only cement rebellion.
A Taboo Topic: As parents, we need to be knowledgeable when talking about vapes. It can’t become a taboo topic. I try to keep across the issue by talking to our Year 11 and 12s about it frequently, but I still feel a little awkward with it. Ask your son to educate you about vaping. I'm also willing to share my own developing knowledge.
As always, SchoolTV is another good source of information for parents. The special report on Vaping last year can be found here. I wish I had a magic wand that could convince our students that they are taking a massive risk by vaping, particularly as there are no long-term studies regarding future health impacts from vaping. Terrace prohibits vaping in any form at the College or associated events. The College is responsible for providing a safe environment where your son is not exposed to unnecessary dangers, including vaping. If you have any concerns with your son in this area, please contact his House Dean or me for further discussion.
Finally, the current situation in the Ukraine and the flooding around Brisbane can be unsettling for students. Younger students may start to feel overwhelmed by the news cycle. Our counsellors experienced this during the early days of COVID-19 as well. This article titled, How to cope with bad world news, published by REACHOUT.com, is worth reading if you have a child prone to this issue.