News | National
8 Dec 2024 4:54
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > National

    ‘It’s the worst feeling’ – young New Zealanders regret their vaping addictions but feel unsupported to quit

    Many young vapers feel regret, guilt and intense self-blame for becoming addicted. A new study shows they feel stigmatised and hide their vaping to avoid judgement, increasing feelings of isolation.

    Anna DeMello, Research Fellow in Public Health, University of Otago
    The Conversation


    Vaping rates among young people continue to be a major public health concern, both in Aotearoa New Zealand and elsewhere.

    New vape legislation currently before the health select committee proposes a ban on disposable vapes and restrictions on retailers (except specialist vape shops) which would no longer be able to display vaping products.

    Currently, vaping products are widely available and aggressive marketing of youth-oriented designs and flavours has encouraged experimentation among young people.

    These products contain nicotine and have powerful addictive potential. They also carry other risks, such as increasing young people’s susceptibility to lung inflammation, infection or injury.

    The 2023/24 NZ Health Survey found 10.5% of people aged 15 to 17 vaped daily. Among young adults aged 18 to 24, 26.5% were vaping daily.

    The latest ASH Year 10 Snapshot Survey, which involves adolescent students aged 14 to 15, reported that vaping has imposed a heavier burden on Maori, with 22% of Maori Year 10 students vaping daily, compared to 10% among all Year 10 students.

    But how are young people experiencing vaping, and how does it affect their lives?

    To address this question, we undertook in-depth interviews with 20 adolescents (aged 16 to 18) who live in Aotearoa and consider themselves moderately to heavily addicted to vaping.

    Our research explains how addiction affected their wellbeing, interpersonal relationships and self-view.

    Young people feel repulsed by their vaping addiction

    Initially, participants found vaping offered pleasurable new sensations and helped them to fit in with their peers. But their views changed as they recognised they had become addicted.

    They began to feel highly resentful of the hold vaping had over them and it became disgusting rather than pleasurable.

    It’s not even a fun thing [anymore] […] I got sick of [having this] device in your mouth [to] blow out flavoured smoke. That sounds gross. I really hate it.

    Nearly all wanted to quit, but their addiction felt overwhelming and some began feeling fatalistic and doomed to continue vaping.

    I’m probably slowly killing [my lungs], killing myself. I’ll worry about it [when it happens].

    Many participants felt judged by adults in their lives, particularly family members but also teachers and people they encountered in public spaces. These participants resented comments and criticisms, which often came without offers of support.

    It’s the worst feeling. I got into [vaping], I know that’s my fault, but it’s hard to get out.

    To avoid judgements that left them feeling worse, some hid their vaping, which increased feelings of isolation. Many worried about how adults viewed them and felt their reputation would be damaged if someone they knew saw them vaping.

    A lot of people shun [it]. So, I wouldn’t usually walk down the street with [a vape]. I wait until I’m somewhere more secluded.

    Young people blame themselves and feel lost

    Perceived judgement from others made the regret, guilt and intense self-blame participants experienced worse because they saw no escape from their addiction.

    Few considered how vaping companies had targeted them, or how inadequate government regulation had failed them; many blamed themselves and wished they could turn the clock back.

    There [are so many] downsides. If I [could change things], I would 100% [never] touch a vape […] I would pay thousands if I could go back.

    [I never thought] this would happen to me. But, at the end of the day it’s nobody else’s fault.

    These feelings severely affected several participants’ mental wellbeing and they had withdrawn and felt anxious and depressed.

    I personally just don’t even look at myself anymore, because I don’t recognise myself […] it takes a [big toll] on self-image.

    Tackling young people’s vaping with robust policies

    We found that vaping addiction negatively affected participants’ relationships and how they saw themselves. They felt judged and unsupported in managing their addiction to vaping.

    These findings reinforce the need for stronger upstream policies that protect young people from aggressive marketing. Ending the sale of disposable vaping products is an important first step and we are pleased the health select committee has recommended amending the law and to end vape discounting and loyalty programmes.

    However, more could and should be done to reduce the availability of vaping products and limit attributes that appeal particularly to young people. This includes:

    • ending vaping product sales in generic retailers such as dairies and service stations, and limiting product sales to age-restricted (R-18) specialist shops

    • capping vape retailer numbers and reducing outlet density, particularly in more deprived areas

    • restricting all (current and future) general and specialist vape retailers from operating within 500 metres of schools and marae

    • monitoring the impact of a ban on disposable vape sales (as the government plans to do) to ensure companies do not undermine the measure.

    Targeted cessation programmes could also help young people to quit, but these must take an empathetic approach and respond to their particular needs.

    The Conversation

    Anna DeMello does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.
    © 2024 TheConversation, NZCity

     Other National News
     08 Dec: Firefighters are urging the public to stay away, as they continue to try bring the massive wildfire in Canterbury under control
     07 Dec: New Zealand Olympian Sam Tanner has swapped the race track for the water, taking part in the Manu world champs qualifier at Tauranga Moana
     07 Dec: England are in control after two days of the second cricket test against New Zealand in Wellington
     07 Dec: Auckland FC have made a strong start to their A-League derby with the Wellington Phoenix at Mount Smart Stadium
     07 Dec: Tall Blacks big Tai Wynyard is rejoining the Breakers as injury cover ahead of tonight's clash with the Sydney Kings in Wellington
     07 Dec: The Premier Hockey League will reach it's culmination when the finals are played this evening in Auckland
     07 Dec: A Canterbury commerce graduate has been caught up in the police investigation into the killing of UnitedHealthcare chief executive Brian Thompson
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    A milestone for Black Ferns Sevens veteran Kelly Brazier in this weekend's latest World Series event in Cape Town More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    One electricity company wants big gentailers to split their generation and retail arms - at a time of power shortages and price hikes More...



     Today's News

    Politics:
    Impeachment of South Korean president fails after ruling party MPs boycott vote 4:36

    Environment:
    Firefighters are urging the public to stay away, as they continue to try bring the massive wildfire in Canterbury under control 4:36

    General:
    New Zealand Olympian Sam Tanner has swapped the race track for the water, taking part in the Manu world champs qualifier at Tauranga Moana 21:57

    Cricket:
    England are in control after two days of the second cricket test against New Zealand in Wellington 21:17

    International:
    Japanese sake earns UNESCO heritage status. What does it mean? 20:57

    Law and Order:
    The family of a teen who died on an Orlando amusement park ride, has been paid out more than 500 million New Zealand dollars 18:57

    Soccer:
    Auckland FC have made a strong start to their A-League derby with the Wellington Phoenix at Mount Smart Stadium 18:07

    Rugby League:
    One of the Breakers' younger players is challenging himself to lead from the front when they host the Sydney Kings tonight 17:27

    Basketball:
    The Breakers insist there is no need for a magic bullet to pull them out of the downward spiral they've found themselves in 16:57

    Cricket:
    Australia will be looking to keep their foot on the gas when day two of the second cricket test with India begins in Adelaide 16:17


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2024 New Zealand City Ltd