E-cigarettes and Nicotine Containing Products

An ADEPIS presentation for school leaders and governors

Questions for Schools

• Are e-cigarettes an issue for our pupils?

• Are e-cigarettes harmful to pupils?

• What issues should the school’s policies and guidance cover in respect of the use of e-cigarettes by pupils, and by parents on school premises?

What are e-cigarettes

• Electronic cigarettes are battery-powered devices designed to deliver nicotine in a toxin-free vapour.

• While many are designed and produced to look and feel like traditional cigarettes, others have different shapes and designs, and not all produce vapour.

• Some products are currently being marketed as e-shisha. There is no meaningful distinction between e-shisha products and e-cigarettes, other than marketing.

Photo from Flickr user Terry Ozon

Are e-cigarettes widely used by pupils?

• Current smokers are more likely to have tried e-cigarettes than non-smokers

• A recent survey suggests the use of e-cigarettes among pupils is rare– 1 in 20 among 11-15 year olds who have

heard of e-cigarettes had tried them once or twice

– None were using them regularly

Source: ASH, Use of e-cigarettes in Great Britain among adults and young people (2013) http://www.ash.org.uk/files/documents/ASH_891.pdf

Are e-cigarettes harmful?

• There are no circumstances in which it would be safer to smoke than to use an e-cigarette.

• However, the extent of nicotine uptake and safety of e-cigarettes has not yet been established and although at present we have little evidence of harm, this could emerge over time.

• E-cigarettes generally contain nicotine, propylen glycol (used to create the artificial vapour), glycerin, water, and flavourings

• The amount of nicotine contained in e-cigarettes can vary

• There is very little quality control which often means there is difference between what is on the label and what is delivered to the user

NICE guidance on smoking cessation

• Young people (aged 12-17) should be offered clear information, advice and support on how to stop smoking

• Professional judgement must be used to decide whether or not to offer nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) to pupils

• E-cigarettes should not be treated as NRT

Issues for schools

• E-cigarettes are currently unregulated, but this is likely to change by 2016. It is not currently illegal to sell these products to children and young people.

• DfE guidance says schools and FE colleges would be entitled to include e-cigarettes to their list of prohibited items should they choose. – NB schools must follow the DfEs guidance when

exercising powers to search and confiscate items from pupils.

Further questions

• How will you control e-cigarettes in your school?– Does your drug or behaviour policies need to be

updated?– How would a ban affect adults who are trying to

stop smoking by using e-cigarettes?

• How could e-cigarettes be included in the PSHE or science curriculum?

• How can pupil’s current knowledge of e-cigarettes be assessed?

Further reading

• ADEPIS, E-cigarettes and Nicotine Containing Products (NCPs) http://mentor-adepis.org/e-cigarettes-nicotine-containing-products-ncps/

• ASH, Use of e-cigarettes in Great Britain among adults and young people (2013) http://www.ash.org.uk/files/documents/ASH_891.pdf

• DfE, Screening, searching and confiscation. Advice for headteachers, school staff and governing bodies, July 2013 http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/s/screening%20searching%20and%20confiscation%20advice.pdf

• NICE, Smoking cessation services guidance http://www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/live/11925/39596/39596.pdf

About ADEPIS

• The Alcohol and Drug Education and Prevention Information Service (ADEPIS) is a project run by Mentor, the drug and alcohol protection charity, in conjunction with DrugScope and Adfam and is funded by the Department for Education.

• Further resources are available from http://mentor-adepis.org