New research shows that the OurFutures Institute Vaping Prevention Program reduces the likelihood of adolescent vaping by 65 per cent compared to standard health education.
Led by researchers Dr Lauren Gardner and Professor Nicola Newton from the Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use at the University of Sydney, the study involved more than 5000 students across three Australian states.
“It’s actually the world’s largest trial of a school-based digital vaping prevention intervention, and the first of its kind in Australia,” Gardner tells EducationHQ.
She says adolescents who vape are being exposed to harmful and addictive chemicals during critical stages of brain development.
“There’s this common misconception that vapes are safe or less harmful compared to cigarettes, however, there is a lot of evidence emerging to show that that’s not actually the case,” Gardner shares.
“There’s conclusive clinical evidence that vaping is linked to things like poisoning, burns, lung injury, as well as, of course, nicotine addiction, which can rewire the brain when it is during that critical development phase.
It can also lead to increased risk of tobacco cigarette smoking.
“And every day we’re seeing more studies emerging talking about the health risks, so there’s mounting evidence - there’s sleep disturbances, we’re seeing oral health effects in terms of cavities and gum disease,” Gardner says.
Dr Lauren Gardner says there is still “a massive amount of work” to be done to curb nicotine use among young people and stop vaping in its tracks. “Rates of vaping among young people remain unacceptably high,” she says.
The research team found that the digital, interactive, evidence-based program increases vaping-related knowledge and equips young people with the real-world refusal skills to say no when it matters most.
The study comes amid new government figures which show that while there is more to do, vaping rates are starting to decline among young people in Australia following sustained investment and campaigns.
Gardner says there are a couple of standout reasons as to why the program has been so successful.
“Firstly, it’s built on an effective substance use prevention model that’s been used for other substances - and that is really underpinned by theory, established behavioural theory, so a social influence approach as well as a harm minimisation approach.
Gardner says the other really core thing is that it includes the voices of young people.
“So it’s co-designed with students. They were involved in creating the cartoons and the characters who are the ones who deliver them the educational messages and model these assertiveness and refusal skills.
“They really can immerse themselves in the story and apply them in their own life.”
Gardner says having that student voice centre means that the program is relatable, it’s believable and it’s engaging for them.
“So they want to learn from it,” she says.
Gardner adds, however, that there is still “a massive amount of work” to be done to curb nicotine use among young people and stop vaping in its tracks.
“Rates of vaping among young people remain unacceptably high,” she says.
“Prevention is our best shot at breaking the cycle of addiction, before it starts.”
Schools, in particular teachers, have a critical role to play moving forward.
“The really key thing for teachers is to make sure that they are implementing evidence-based programs,” Gardner impresses.
“So although vaping, as well as alcohol and other drug education is mandatory within the curriculum, there is, of course, flexibility in how teachers address those key outcomes.
“We know that teachers are time poor and there’s so much in the curriculum that they need to address.
Gardner says while many programs frame themselves as ‘evidence-based’, teachers understand what evidence-based means and its different levels.
“So as I mentioned, this study is that really rigorous evaluation that can generate that gold standard level of evidence, and there’s currently no other programs out there that have that in Australia.
“I’d love to see as many students possible using it,” Gardner says.
Commonwealth funding to deliver the OurFutures Vaping Prevention Program nationally to students in Year 7 and 8 means it’s free of charge for every school.
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler says the Albanese Government has been proud to back the program.
“Vaping is no longer a future threat to our young people – it’s a very real issue facing them right now,” Butler says.
“Though we have made great inroads to vaping reduction and access measures for vaping products for our young people, the Australian Government is proud to back [the program] as we know that vaping had become the number one behavioural concern for school communities.
“This groundbreaking study proves that our investment in evidence-based prevention is delivering world-leading results.”
Public health expert and Director and Head of Office at WHO Asia-Pacific Centre for Environment and Health, Dr Sandro Demaio, says doctors are seeing first-hand the devastating effects of vaping.
“Australia must urgently act before we lose another generation to nicotine addiction,” he says.
“While Australia’s supply-side measures have made important progress, we can also now lead the way in stopping Big Tobacco in its tracks, by also addressing demand.”
For more information on the program or how your school or community can get involved, click here.
