Rise in vaping among nation’s youth

By Lara Pickford-Gordon

snrwriter.camsel@catholictt.org

Young people smoking cigarettes has always been a major concern with exposure to tobacco and other harmful substances. For several years, however, electronic cigarettes, or vapes, have emerged as another way for young people to smoke, raising fresh concerns about their use and accessibility.

The exact year vapes entered the local market could not be confirmed although 2010 was one date given online. While the number of young people who vape in Trinidad and Tobago is unknown, available data suggests children are engaging in the habit.

Ministry of Education figures for the 2021–2022 academic year show that 235 students—184 males and 51 females—were suspended for possession or use of tobacco and vaping products. It was the second most common reason for suspension after fighting with weapons.

Darrion Narine, Programme Manager of the Samaritan Movement, which focuses on trauma-informed education and resilience at schools, said in group discussions with students “vaping has come up time and time again”.

Narine said vaping is a reality impacting children and popular trends and media are influencing their behaviour. “They’ve picked up and followed on those trends. We’re seeing vaping rising in schools. They hide and they do it. They do it in the bathroom,” he said.

He said young people do not understand the consequences of vaping and highlighted the need for more public education about its risks stating, “There’s not enough information that’s publicised or that is brought forward in such a way that children really understand.”

The young people who disclosed they vaped were between the ages of 15 to 18 years. Narine stated: “They tend to get the vapes very easily from older friends, et cetera, who purchase on their behalf, this kind of thing”.

He added, “the access to vapes as well is something that’s also problematic with regards to the school population being able to easily buy or purchase.” Vapes can also be accessed through other students selling them.

Narine disclosed that young people gave relieving stress as a reason they began using e-cigarettes. Another reason is the influence of friends and colleagues “who say it’s probably cool and they see it as being something that’s cool, that’s trendy so they engage in the behaviour as well.”

‘Popcorn lung’

Young people believe that vaping is harmless, said Peter Jeffrey, Treasurer of the Chest and Heart Association of Trinidad and Tobago (CHATT) in an interview with The Catholic News.

CHATT’s mission is to assist in the prevention of cardiovascular disease in Trinidad and Tobago by creating awareness of heart health, healthy lifestyles and proper dietary habits. Information is also shared on the dangers of vaping. Jeffrey said from community outreach and visits to schools, young people share that they began vaping out of curiosity or peer influence but often they feel vaping is harmless and vapes are “just flavoured watered vapour.”

Jeffrey said that is misleading, explaining that the smoke coming out vapes is an aerosol which is “denser than water vapour and because there are components of the e-liquid that goes into the vape that are oil based, it is heavier than water vapour”.

Jeffrey said young people appear to be the primary target audience for marketing, with vapes coming in bright colours and fruity flavours. He identified harmful components used in vapes as “ultra fine particles, heavy metals like nickel, tin, and lead”. He said vaping can cause health risks like “popcorn lung”.

Jeffrey voiced concern that the vaping industry is unregulated in Trinidad and Tobago, “therefore nobody knows for certain what are the components of a vape, so what we do know is, there are harmful chemicals.”