Craigmount High School S2 pupils displayed great initiative in creating promotional materials encouraging young people to make positive lifestyle choices which were showcased during their recent ‘Live It!’ healthy living fair.
Several pupils chose to research the topic of e-cigarettes and addiction as part of their project work and created a campaign presenting information about the risks to health caused nicotine dependency.
The project work by students Owen Adams, Murray Bruce, Max Green and Olly Hay which also provided tips suggesting how young people could take steps to quit vaping, is being commended by health charity, ASH Scotland.
The pupils used the charity’s website to find details about the importance of tackling youth vaping, which is a major public health concern as e-cigarettes contain high levels of addictive nicotine as well as toxic chemicals.
Murray Bruce said: “Vaping isn’t only bad for your lungs. I’m concerned about young people getting addicted. I’ve found out it’ young people that are targeted with the bright colours and different flavours.
“I’d like to see more ‘fake customers’ going into shops to try to buy vapes from the shops that sell them to underage people and catch them. More people need to be caught so that they stop selling them.”
Project Learning Lead at Craigmount High School, Laura Thompson, who led the project said: “I’m pleased to see a number of our S2 pupils chose to focus on the issue of youth vaping, as it is a real concern to society.
“Banning smoking from public places seemed like such a game changer when that was brought in. Over 20 years on and we’ve just created a new problem. We don’t yet know the full extent of the issue, as long-term impacts of vaping are not yet known.
“I do worry about the health implications moving forwards. It’s important for young people to take the lead in finding out more and looking at what can be done to raise awareness of this problem.”
Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland, said: “We congratulate all the S2 students at Craigmount High School for their dedicated work to raise awareness about the issues of addiction among young people and the challenges to health presented by tobacco and recreational nicotine products such as vapes.
“The information campaign developed by Owen, Murray, Max and Olly raised much-needed awareness about the damage that tobacco and e-cigarettes can cause young people in their excellent project work promoting healthy living.”
For information about young people and vaping, visit: