The HSE is taking its national vape prevention campaign to the National Ploughing Championships to engage directly with young people, parents, and rural communities. The “Take a Deep Breath” campaign aims to arm young people, parents and influential adults with the facts about vaping, to help facilitate meaningful discussions. 75% of teenagers say that their parents are trusted sources of information on vaping. The HSE is utilising the platform of the Ploughing Championships to highlight the health risks of youth vaping and provide resources for meaningful family discussions.
Vaping can lead to smoking or addiction to other substances. Children and young people are more at risk of the negative effects of nicotine which include problems with attention and learning, mood, impulse control and anxiety as well as problems sleeping and mental health difficulties, such as low mood. It can cause damage to your heart, lungs, teeth and gums, the developing brain and blood vessels. Over time these risks may cause diseases such as heart disease, lung disease and cancer. Scientific reviews and laboratory biomarkers indicate that e-cigarette aerosols contain carcinogenic compounds and generate cellular and DNA damage linked to lung and oral cancer, although human studies that estimate the risk will take decades to accumulate (1).
The HSE Tobacco Free Ireland Programme is actively countering the normalisation of these products, which often attract teenagers through product placement and wide availability, aggressive marketing in stores and online and the use of synthetic nicotine, bright colours, and sweet flavours.
Martina Blake, HSE National Lead for Tobacco Free Ireland, said:
“Vaping use in young people under the age of 18 has increased in recent years and about 1 in 5 people under the age of 18 say they vape. Children and young people are more vulnerable and at risk of the negative effects of vaping and nicotine use. We have designed a campaign that speaks directly to young people about the risk of vaping, and to people who can make a difference and have an influence on young people such as parents and guardians, teachers and sports coaches. This campaign aims to contribute, alongside policy and legislation to reversing these trends.”
For more information on vaping and young people see the HSE website: https://www2.hse.ie/living-well/quit-smoking/other-products/young-people/
Other HSE inputs at the Ploughing include, the SunSmart campaign (a key priority for outdoor workers) promoted through UV Index Boards and free sunscreen near entrances to the Government of Ireland tent as well as stands from the North West Drugs and Alcohol Taskforce and the National Women and Infants Health Programme among others.
1. Bernard W Stewart, Henry Marshall, Billie Bonevski, Hayley J Griffin, Ashley M Hopkins, Malinda Itchins, Cassandra J Mazza, Natansh D Modi, Marissa Ryan, Megan Varlow, Freddy Sitas. The carcinogenicity of e-cigarettes: a qualitative risk assessment. Carcinogenesis, 2026; 47 (1) DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgag015