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A sharp increase in regular vaping among year 8 and 10s in Guernsey has been met with new resources, new policies, and new school lessons, and have all been highlighted in the latest Combined Substance Use Strategy annual report.
The report for 2023 has now been published and outlines the work being done to promote a “safer and healthier Guernsey and Alderney”.
The Strategy (2021-2023) was approved by the Committee for Health and Social Care in 2021 and is being delivered by Public Health’s partner, the Health Improvement Commission and a multidisciplinary team including Primary Care and Bailiwick Law Enforcement, among others.
It includes three pillars, and has seen roughly 66% of its aims met so far:
The latest report covers 2023 and notable highlights include the production of resources to help young people understand vaping, the submission of data to the World Health Organisation’s Framework Convention for Tobacco Control, and the implementation of a Prison Group Programmefocused on substance use.
You can read the full report ONLINE.
Much was made of the increase in young people vaping and the actions being taken to tackle it.
“In response to concern of e-cigarette use amongst young people, the Health Improvement Commission in collaboration with Smoke Free Sheffield worked to localise and co-brand Action for Smoking in Health’s vaping resources,” the report reads.
“The resources are available on the Health Improvement Commission’s website and social media, and were sent to all secondary schools which have been used internally as well as leaflets sent to all parents. Four new vaping lessons have been finalised and delivered in schools by Action for Children from 2024. year across the island, with small fluctuations in numbers having disproportionate impact on prevalence measures.
“Even so, results from the survey most recently completed in May 2022 showed a sharp increase in students in Year 8 and 10 reporting to vape regularly (more than once a week), rising from 2% in 2019 to 10% in 2022. In 2023, it was agreed by the Committee for Health & Social Care to explore additional vaping policies which include placement and banning sale to under 18s through making nicotine a regulated product.”
In publishing the report, the Substance Use Lead for HIC, Andrea Nightingale, said:
“The health-led approach of the Strategy focuses on prevention, treatment and recovery is key as efforts continue to support the delivery of high-quality traumainformed community services and ensure that there are appropriate environments for health and wellbeing through policy and legislation.
“We are very grateful to our commissioned services in the community; InDependence, Action for Children and the Community Drug and Alcohol Team (CDAT) for their dedication, commitment, and professionalism, as well as other statutory services, third sector agencies and companies that we have worked with.”
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