For many it is the way out, an aid to blunt the smoke. For many young people, it is trendy. Both in school and in the Storting, more people are now sounding the alarm. More and more young people are smoking e-cigarettes, also known as vaping or vaping. The principal at Galterud secondary school in Drammen, Simon Jara, is concerned. – It can smell like strawberries in the toilet after recess, he says. Colorful and fresh flavors. More and more young people think it’s cool to vape. Photo: Lars Erik Skrefsrud / news Sold in the schoolyard The battery-powered inhaler has gradually become more popular among young people, even though there is an 18-year-old limit. The youth data survey from 2022 showed that 4 percent used it occasionally, while 1 percent used it daily. – In the Young in Oslo survey from last year, we saw a doubling in the proportion who have tried e-cigarettes. The proportion who use it regularly had increased and 14 per cent stated that they use it occasionally, says OsloMet researcher Rikke Tokle. These are e-cigarettes The e-cigarette was invented and patented as a smoking substitute in China in 2003. In 2006, simple e-cigarettes that resembled conventional cigarettes were released on the world market. Subsequently, product innovation was great. It is prohibited to produce, import and sell e-cigarettes and e-liquid/e-juice with nicotine in Norway. E-cigarettes are less harmful than tobacco smoking, but are not without health risks, according to the Institute of Public Health’s report “Health risks when using e-cigarettes”. Since the products are so new, researchers know little about the long-term consequences. Some studies show that the airways become irritated. In some e-cigarettes, metals and various substances that can be carcinogenic have been found. Nicotine-containing e-cigarettes add nicotine to the body and will have the same harmful effects as nicotine from tobacco or other nicotine products. In ordinary cigarettes, however, it is substances other than nicotine that are the most dangerous. Since there is no combustion of tobacco in e-cigarettes, the same harmful substances are not formed as when smoking regular cigarettes. Source: FHI and the Directorate of Health Principal Simon Jara has seen the development in a number of schools. He particularly highlights the flavorings as a risk factor, which makes it easier for children to start. – I am very worried. We experience that cars come to the school grounds and that 18-19-year-olds push this on minors. Young people are also offered this on Instagram, and then someone comes to the door with a scooter and delivers. He sees the use everywhere. – Children vape on school premises, for example in the toilets. When I’m slaloming in Aronsbakken in Drammen, I see young people vaping in the ski lift. Headmaster Simon Jara sees steaming young people both in the schoolyard and on the slalom hill. Photo: Kate Barth-Nilsen / news – It’s a utopia The Storting majority has adopted a ban on flavored e-cigarettes, in the hope that it will limit the recruitment of young vapers. – Flavorings and the design of products affect how attractive e-cigarettes are, especially among children and young people. Therefore, there will also be a requirement for standardized packages and rules for the design of the products. It’s about protecting children and young people from nicotine and tobacco products, says Even Røed (Ap) in the health and care committee at the Storting. Bård Hoksrud (Frp) believes the ban may be counterproductive. Photo: Tom Balgaard/news Bård Hoksrud (Frp) is also sitting there. He voted against the proposal. – This is because we know that for adults who smoke, switching to e-cigarettes will be less harmful to their health. Everyone agrees that we do not want young people to start using e-cigarettes, which is why there is an 18-year-old limit. He believes that a ban on flavoring will not solve the challenge. – It is a utopia. news Innlandet had a case with a young girl of 18 who traveled to Sweden to buy e-cigarettes with nicotine. We cannot do like North Korea and close the borders, says Hoksrud. Social status Rikke Tokle says young people are challenging themselves and sharing pictures on TikTok and Snapchat. Researcher Rikke Tokle says e-sig has become an identity marker for many. Photo: OsloMet – There are new products coming out all the time, which means that the “news value” is maintained. It becomes an identity marker for young people and means a lot for their social status. They are in the process of breaking away from their parents and want to be part of the gang. For some, having the latest, cool weapon is such a marker, she says. That’s why e-cigarettes are made with flavors of lemon, coconut, mango and vanilla. The “sign” itself can look like anything from Mickey Mouse to a camouflage colored pen. – We talk to the young people. We talk to the parents and send them pictures of how camouflaged these products are. Parents can advantageously go through the children’s cases and not be too naive, says headmaster Jara. Fears ban can make it cool Bård Hoksrud believes the taste ban could end up working against its purpose. – Maybe it will be even cooler when it is illegal. – But isn’t it good to prioritize children and young people compared to adults stopping smoking? Even Røed (Ap) believes it is important to remove taste and colour. Photo: Kate Barth-Nilsen / news – It is definitely important to prioritize children and young people. But it is like that there is an 18-year-old limit and the young people are not allowed to do this. Many people travel across the border and buy, and they will continue to do so. E-cigarettes with nicotine are prohibited for sale in Norway. The legal e-cigarettes without nicotine have an age limit of 18, but it is not allowed to advertise them or display them in shops. Abroad it is legal, and many people either buy across the border or order online. The Labor Party hopes the ban will send a signal to the industry. – We are talking about vape equipment designed like cartoon characters, which are obviously aimed at children and young people. Therefore, it is no longer possible to sell e-cigarettes that taste like strawberries or cotton candy. It will make it less interesting when it tastes like tobacco, says Even Røed.
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– It can smell like strawberries in the toilet – news Buskerud – Local news, TV and radio
