Educators' perceptions of e-cigarettes in Australian secondary schools.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Adolescent Health
• Education Policy

Background:

• Youth vaping is a growing concern in secondary schools globally.
• Limited research exists on school-based vaping prevention outside the US.
• This study addresses the need for data on Australian school staff experiences with student e-cigarette use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess Australian secondary school staff experiences with student e-cigarette use.
• To identify the prevalence of e-cigarette policies and educational programs.
• To explore barriers to policy implementation and desired support for vaping prevention.

Main Methods:

• An online survey was distributed to staff across Australian public, Catholic, and Independent secondary schools.
• Data were collected from 218 school staff members, including principals, teachers, and other personnel.
• Both quantitative and qualitative data were gathered between May and September 2022.

Main Results:

• Nearly half of surveyed staff found students with e-cigarettes monthly; one-third of principals reported monthly suspensions/expulsions.
• A significant majority (93%) agreed vaping is a growing problem, and 94% expressed concern.
• Only 51% of schools had an e-cigarette policy; discreet appearance (83%) and scent detection (73%) were key enforcement barriers.

Conclusions:

• E-cigarettes pose a substantial threat to the secondary school environment in Australia.
• There is a critical need for robust school- and government-level policies to combat youth vaping.
• Effective prevention and reduction strategies require policy development, implementation, and enforcement.