The latest National Child Health Poll from The Royal Children’s Hospital asked 2,012 Australian parents and 1,488 children aged between 12 and 17 years about their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours related to nicotine products including cigarettes, vapes and oral nicotine pouches.
This research revealed that one in four children (26%) reported they had ever tried a nicotine product, with one in eight (12%) reporting they had used a nicotine product in the last 30 days. Vapes were the most commonly used nicotine product, followed by cigarettes then nicotine pouches.
Of those children who reported current use of nicotine, more than a third (38%) indicated they were using multiple types of nicotine products, and half (53%) indicated that they would like to quit or cut down. Almost three quarters (74%) of children aged 12-17 years using nicotine products described experiencing dependence.
Overall, many parents were not aware that their children had tried or were currently using nicotine products. When asked where they would seek help about quitting nicotine products, 70% of parents and 37% of those children reporting dependence said they would seek help from a doctor.
GPs can identify young patients who may be using nicotine products and providing support to both parents and children in terms of cessation. GPs can use the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) clinical guidelines for smoking and vaping cessation that include guidance specific to young patients.
GPs can also access a range of useful clinical tools and guidelines and online training to support their patients with smoking and vaping cessation through the Quit Centre website. GPs can be confident that Quitline can support young people using nicotine products, as well as their families. GPs can easily make a referral to Quitline (subject to patient consent).