Somerset students taught to resist vape peer pressure in school
Action on Smoking Health (ASH) found 18% of 11-17 year olds have tried vaping
Schools in Somerset are running a course to prevent students from taking up vaping.
The course is run by a Bristol-based non-profit organisation called Evidence to Impact, and teaches school pupils the dangers of picking up the habit, addiction, the environmental consequences and how to say no to friends who have started vaping.
"It seems to be levelling out, the number of young people trying vapes, but it's still double the number who would try cigarettes," said Sally Good, CEO of Evidence to Impact.
"We see a lot of parents with the best will in the world, buying vapes for their children to stop them trying cigarettes."
The most recent study from Action on Smoking Health (ASH) found 18% of 11-17 year olds have tried vaping.
"When vapes first evolved it was seen and still is seen as a useful tool to give up smoking and I don't think people foresaw this huge interest in youth culture," Sally added.
"But you can see how they're attractive to young people and I don't think that was ever the intention.
"On the course we're talking to the students about managing stress, exams, relationships - how do you deal with those things without turning to vaping?
"We get them to visualise themselves as a young adult. What does that look like?
"Do you want to be addicted to something or do you want a freer life?" she added.
Sally is urging schools across Somerset to sign up to the course.