More than 7,300 teens across NSW and SA have participated in Life Ed’s ‘Reality Now’ program which aims to bust myths around the prevalence of vape use in young people, in a bid to reduce risky behaviour. Â
At the heart of the program is a survey tool which captures students’ awareness, perceptions, attitudes and knowledge of their classmates’ behaviours of vaping, as well as their own.
Spanning students across Years’ 7 – 11, the survey revealed that, overwhelmingly, teens’ overestimate the prevalence of vaping among their peers. In fact, 86% assumed their peers were using vapes at varying levels, while in reality, more than 75% of students said they had never used a vape or tried vaping.  However, 66% of students think vaping is a serious problem at their school.
The survey also highlighted an increase in vaping use among young people. Data revealed 25% of students had either used a vape or had tried vaping at least once. This represents a steep increase in usage compared to the 2017 Australian Secondary School’s Student Survey, where 1 in 8 students (13%) reported that they had used an e-cigarette at least once in their lifetime.
With our funding support, the interactive live survey tool provided students with real-time information to help bust the myths associated with vape use and educate young people on the health risks. By understanding that only a small portion of their peers’ engage in risky behaviours can be a powerful tool for young people to feel more confident in their health choices.
To book the Life Ed Reality Now program at your school or for more information on Life Ed’s work, visit http://www.lifeed.org.au
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