NASUWT Claims Evidence of Vaping Crisis
The National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers says a survey it has conducted shows there is evidence of a “vaping crisis” in schools
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by Dave Cross
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The National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers – The Teachers’ Union (NASUWT) says that new data from a survey it’s conducted suggests that vaping continues to be a problem in schools. The Union says 54.4% of teachers reported that pupil vaping is a factor in issues of school safety and behaviour. The data was released just before the third reading of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill in order to influence politicians.
More than 5000 teachers from across the UK responded to the survey, which has produced data suggesting that:
- 52% of teachers have observed an increase in vaping among pupils over the past year
- 62% of teachers state that students frequently leave lessons to vape
- 39% of teachers report that nicotine addiction affects students’ concentration in class
- Some children as young as 10 years old have been reported using vapes regularly
- 17% of teachers stated that students vape in the lesson itself
- 71% of respondents reported that pupils vape at break times, while 8 in 10 (81%) reported students gather in the toilets to vape throughout the school day
- 40% of respondents said that pupils are misusing snus and nicotine pouches in school
NASUWT says that vaping is also “a significant cause of damage to school buildings and property, with pupils hiding vapes causing damage to ceiling tiles and pupils flushing vapes causing expensive plumbing issues”.
Dr Patrick Roach, General Secretary of NASUWT, said: “The government’s plans to ban disposable vapes and enact age restrictions for vape purchase are urgently needed to uphold public health.
“It is clear that our children and young people are vulnerable to predatory marketing practices from vape manufacturers. We must also see further action on vape packaging, flavor restriction, and strict retail license penalties for non-compliance.
“In an age rife with misinformation, schools need support and resources to make sure pupils fully understand the dangers of tobacco and nicotine. NASUWT is calling for the government to fund school-based programs to prevent youth vaping, and to provide clear guidance for schools on addressing vaping-related issues.”
The BBC quotes Sharron Daly, a secondary school teacher and a NASUWT official, saying that vapes are “far more difficult to police” than cigarettes have ever been.
Daly claimed vapes are “designed to look like lip gloss or highlighters” and that students “smell like blueberry bubble gum”.
She continued: “Some children are unable to concentrate. Children become agitated because they can't get that nicotine fix and it leads to confrontation. It has a negative effect on pupil behaviour and ultimately it will have an effect on pupil performance as well because if they can't concentrate, they can't learn.”
This survey is not science, it amounts to a collection of anecdotes. This is not the basis for sound legislation.
Dave Cross
Journalist at POTVDave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.
