A leading Noosa respiratory health expert has warned of the dangers of vaping and smoking.
Professor Amy Rigby, who specialises in respiratory medicine at Noosa Hospital, said vaping was a rapidly emerging health crisis that puts young people at risk of both short and long term health problems.
Professor Rigby’s concerns came as the State Government last week passed new laws to crack down on criminal gangs and illegal vape traders by passing new legislation.
Under the new laws, Queensland Health can now shut down illegal businesses for three months (up from three days) without having to go through lengthy court processes.
It can also seize all lawful smoking products found at illegal stores that are ‘tainted’ by being supplied or stored alongside illicit tobacco and vapes, including confectionary, food and other goods. This includes nitrous oxide bulbs and canisters, known as ‘nangs’.
As well, Queensland Health officers can now conduct undercover operations at illicit tobacco and vape stores and landlords have new powers to terminate leases when they are notified their tenant is an illegal operator.
Commercial landlords who knowingly permit illegal tobacco or activity now face a maximum penalty of a $166,900 fine and 12 months in jail.
Professor Rigby said: “Nicotine is so highly addictive that even smoking casually for a few days or weeks can lead to lifelong addiction.”
“Additionally, given how unregulated the sector is, vapes now often have multiple other addictive and potentially harmful substances that can cause immediate harm (and even death) in addition to the longer term side effects. Nicotine poisoning in children may occur.”
“There is an increasing incidence of acute lung injury being seen from vaping. This results in shortness of breath, chest pain, fevers, and difficulty breathing, and has caused death. For adolescents, vaping can also have lasting impacts on brain development, affecting memory, concentration, and learning.”
“Finally, the stimulating effects of nicotine can also impact mental health. Users may experience anxiety, mood swings, and at times worsening of depression.”
Professor Rigby warned that the long term effects of vaping will lead to increased stress of the health sector.
“We need to act now to prevent the next tsunami of morbidity and mortality from vaping. Just because we don’t have long term data yet on the adverse effects of vaping doesn’t mean we cannot foresee the likely consequences.”
“The delayed effects of smoking on health – the incidence of COPD and lung cancer – peaked many years after the peak era of smoking, by which time it was too late to reverse. This has led to a huge impact on the healthcare sector as we try to manage the effects.”
“Non-users can be affected by second-hand smoke or vape emissions, causing similar health effects to those seen in users. This is especially concerning in more densely populated areas where avoiding exposure is difficult.”
“Utilisation of effective public health strategies such as education, access to cessation programs, and banning of these products statewide, could help see the negative impacts, both short- and long-term, be mitigated.”
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls said: “During Labor’s decade of decline, hundreds of illegal stores opened up selling these dangerous goods to our kids and putting at risk decades of hard-won progress in tobacco control.”
“Our new laws introduce tougher penalties, longer store closures, and powers to seize more stock than ever before.
“These laws will also empower landlords to boot out their dodgy tenants caught peddling these illegal products.”
