"I thought it was a sour lolly": Vape in seven-year-old's bag raises public concern

When Paige, a mum from Melbourne, recently opened her seven-year-old son's school bag, she discovered a neon green-coloured plastic object. At the time, she did not know what she was looking at.

On the front of the item was a cartoon skeleton, as well as the words "double apple" and "rock" which were printed together.

"At first, the bright colours made me think it was a sour lolly, like Warheads," she told 9News.


According to Paige, her son, who had found it on the basketball courts at his school and brought it home with him, also believed it to be a lolly.

When Paige looked up information about the product online, that's when she discovered to her horror that it was actually a vape.

Although there were no listed ingredients on the vape that her son brought home, information that was found online revealed that it contained 50 milligrams of nicotine, which is approximately the same amount as five cigarettes.

ExoEe4NGBiUD-VSrk-6PN9q7jNEVcAsByNN9H_7rX-I1GI4nGRtQUs932Z5n1OzWsdbnQU1WXZHnJ7fxpO7WaXWIm-8qi5w6S1f3D0RkP2_akNhjB4waH-HqBL2aJUFUdhzDCSt0nRgCyE2vLA

Paige and her son thought the green-coloured device was a 'lolly'. Credit: 9News.

Paige expressed her shock at the product's packaging, which she felt was obviously designed with children in mind and intended to appeal to them, asking: "How can cigarette packs be required to label nicotine usage and have horrible pictures on them, but vapes look like lollies?"

To her great relief, her young son had not used the vape; rather, he had simply brought it home after discovering it on the basketball courts at his school.

Paige reported the incident to the principal of her son's school, who confirmed that similar incidents involving older students leaving vaping products on school property after hours had occurred in the past.


Paige is just one of the hundreds of worried parents and grandparents across the country who are concerned that the devices are having a negative impact on the health and wellbeing of their children.

In spite of the fact that vape pens are illegal in Australia, a thriving black market means that teenagers can obtain them without a prescription through social media and other channels.

E-cigarettes come in a wide variety of flavours, and due to the fact that they are so small, they are able to be discreetly stowed away in pockets or school bags.

TFm-fPIi4sGf8QJ95eIuytV916Wg0oCqnuID8RBwtkYXMXSOfMoaeCymx916gt3PT0Xhi6sxENNXRV1AAYIBWGp0QRtzl-5C_w3T2k3zRUFJ-k2_-Zx52H0hAXUMcQV0tzebdPYI_vZ4XFs2Cw

Kids are being marketed colourful vapes with fruity flavours, and research shows they can lead to nicotine addiction. Credit: 9News.

The rise in the number of young people using vapes and other products related to electronic cigarettes has prompted public health professionals to express concern about the issue.

A report from the NSW Health Department, which came out at the end of last month, showed that the number of young people who vape has doubled in the past year. The NSW Population Health Survey showed that 11% of 16–24-year-olds said they currently used e-cigarettes, which is much higher than the 4.5% who said they did in 2020.

According to a recent Australian National University study of global evidence on vaping, it is also found to be a gateway to traditional cigarettes.

"Young nonsmokers are three times more likely to start smoking tobacco after using e-cigarettes," said Sinan Brown, one of the study's co-authors.


In addition to being a gateway to tobacco use, the report discovered that e-cigarettes were causing poisonings, burns, seizures, addiction, and lung injuries.

Brown added, "For children, we have concerns about the development of their brain. Using products with nicotine at a young age also really sets the platform for addiction in later life."

He also pointed out that Australian regulators needed to examine the advertising and marketing of vaping products to young people, particularly on social media platforms, saying: "What we are seeing is that social media advertising is huge and a lot of this (is directed at) youth."

Members, take this as a sign to check on your grandchildren! Vaping and tobacco use are extremely dangerous, so please protect yourself and your loved ones.

More reasons why vaping can be harmful to your and your loved ones' health can be found in the video below:



Credit: Science Insider.
 
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When Paige, a mum from Melbourne, recently opened her seven-year-old son's school bag, she discovered a neon green-coloured plastic object. At the time, she did not know what she was looking at.

On the front of the item was a cartoon skeleton, as well as the words "double apple" and "rock" which were printed together.

"At first, the bright colours made me think it was a sour lolly, like Warheads," she told 9News.



According to Paige, her son, who had found it on the basketball courts at his school and brought it home with him, also believed it to be a lolly.

When Paige looked up information about the product online, that's when she discovered to her horror that it was actually a vape.

Although there were no listed ingredients on the vape that her son brought home, information that was found online revealed that it contained 50 milligrams of nicotine, which is approximately the same amount as five cigarettes.


ExoEe4NGBiUD-VSrk-6PN9q7jNEVcAsByNN9H_7rX-I1GI4nGRtQUs932Z5n1OzWsdbnQU1WXZHnJ7fxpO7WaXWIm-8qi5w6S1f3D0RkP2_akNhjB4waH-HqBL2aJUFUdhzDCSt0nRgCyE2vLA

Paige and her son thought the green-coloured device was a 'lolly'. Credit: 9News.

Paige expressed her shock at the product's packaging, which she felt was obviously designed with children in mind and intended to appeal to them, asking: "How can cigarette packs be required to label nicotine usage and have horrible pictures on them, but vapes look like lollies?"

To her great relief, her young son had not used the vape; rather, he had simply brought it home after discovering it on the basketball courts at his school.

Paige reported the incident to the principal of her son's school, who confirmed that similar incidents involving older students leaving vaping products on school property after hours had occurred in the past.



Paige is just one of the hundreds of worried parents and grandparents across the country who are concerned that the devices are having a negative impact on the health and wellbeing of their children.

In spite of the fact that vape pens are illegal in Australia, a thriving black market means that teenagers can obtain them without a prescription through social media and other channels.

E-cigarettes come in a wide variety of flavours, and due to the fact that they are so small, they are able to be discreetly stowed away in pockets or school bags.


TFm-fPIi4sGf8QJ95eIuytV916Wg0oCqnuID8RBwtkYXMXSOfMoaeCymx916gt3PT0Xhi6sxENNXRV1AAYIBWGp0QRtzl-5C_w3T2k3zRUFJ-k2_-Zx52H0hAXUMcQV0tzebdPYI_vZ4XFs2Cw

Kids are being marketed colourful vapes with fruity flavours, and research shows they can lead to nicotine addiction. Credit: 9News.

The rise in the number of young people using vapes and other products related to electronic cigarettes has prompted public health professionals to express concern about the issue.

A report from the NSW Health Department, which came out at the end of last month, showed that the number of young people who vape has doubled in the past year. The NSW Population Health Survey showed that 11% of 16–24-year-olds said they currently used e-cigarettes, which is much higher than the 4.5% who said they did in 2020.

According to a recent Australian National University study of global evidence on vaping, it is also found to be a gateway to traditional cigarettes.

"Young nonsmokers are three times more likely to start smoking tobacco after using e-cigarettes," said Sinan Brown, one of the study's co-authors.



In addition to being a gateway to tobacco use, the report discovered that e-cigarettes were causing poisonings, burns, seizures, addiction, and lung injuries.

Brown added, "For children, we have concerns about the development of their brain. Using products with nicotine at a young age also really sets the platform for addiction in later life."

He also pointed out that Australian regulators needed to examine the advertising and marketing of vaping products to young people, particularly on social media platforms, saying: "What we are seeing is that social media advertising is huge and a lot of this (is directed at) youth."

Members, take this as a sign to check on your grandchildren! Vaping and tobacco use are extremely dangerous, so please protect yourself and your loved ones.

More reasons why vaping can be harmful to your and your loved ones' health can be found in the video below:




Credit: Science Insider.

As a grandparent l have trust in most of my Grandies to not try these but they are a real concern to parents & grandparents alike. These appear to be targeting a younger generation than cigarettes or Midway little cigars which were available when l was younger. Thankfully the child hadn't tried the vape he found & just bought it home.

Was this product the mastermind of a cigarette company introduced due to a downturn in sales & aimed at non-smoking teens who may start with a vape & graduate to cigarettes? Scary is the figure of 250,000 deaths / year in America from smoking. I recently & sadly said goodbye to a dear friend who smoked but gave it up many years ago.

Why too haven't the Federal Government tried to stop these coming into Oz & fine retailers who sell these? Ultimately with a healthier population this will ease the burden on the overloaded Health System in years to come.
 
I think the fact that the vape turned out to be in the hands of a child is criminal, and the adults responsible for it are obliged to be punished for this. I don't see a problem with vaping as a means to relax for people, and I bought a few on igetoz.com, but I believe that they can only be used at home, and it is impossible to give them to children. It is unknown how the growing body will react to vaping and whether the child will have health problems later.
 
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It's so scary to think that kids might mistake vapes for candy or lollies. It's really important for parents and schools to be aware of this and to make sure they're educating their children about the dangers of nicotine and vaping.
 
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Wow, that's a really eye-opening story. I can totally understand why Paige and her son mistook it for a sour lolly, given the colorful packaging and the cartoon skeleton. These companies really need to take responsibility for how they're marketing potentially harmful products, especially when they can easily be mistaken for something as innocent as candy by a child.
Education around this topic is crucial. Just like you wouldn't leave a packet of cigarettes around, the same should apply to vapes. If you're into vaping or know someone who is, you might be interested to learn about how to recharge a disposable vape. Knowledge is power, after all.
 
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Discovering a vape in a seven-year-old's bag is alarming. Parents must stay vigilant about what their kids have access to. The resemblance to a sour lolly is concerning, as it highlights how easily these items can be mistaken for harmless objects. This incident underscores the importance of educating children about the dangers of vaping and red-vape ensuring that vaping products are stored securely away from them. It's a reminder for all of us to be mindful of where we keep such items and to have open conversations with our children about their safety.
 
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Looking for a long-lasting vaping experience? The 10000 puff vape is perfect for you! With its extended battery life and high-capacity e-liquid, you won't have to worry about constant refills or recharges. It's convenient, reliable, and ensures a smooth, satisfying vape every time. Discover the benefits of a 10000 puff vape by Clicking Here. Whether you're a seasoned vaper or new to the scene, this device promises quality and endurance. Try it out and elevate your vaping game!
 
Looking for a long-lasting vaping experience? The 10000 puff vape is perfect for you! With its extended battery life and high-capacity e-liquid, you won't have to worry about constant refills or recharges. It's convenient, reliable, and ensures a smooth, satisfying vape every time. Discover the benefits of a 10000 puff vape by Clicking Here. Whether you're a seasoned vaper or new to the scene, this device promises quality and endurance. Try it out and elevate your vaping game!
Omg this is blatant disgusting advertising encouraging smoking shame shame shame.😱
 
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Looking for a long-lasting vaping experience? The 10000 puff vape is perfect for you! With its extended battery life and high-capacity e-liquid, you won't have to worry about constant refills or recharges. It's convenient, reliable, and ensures a smooth, satisfying vape every time. Discover the benefits of a 10000 puff vape by Clicking Here. Whether you're a seasoned vaper or new to the scene, this device promises quality and endurance. Try it out and elevate your vaping game!
It’s alarming to hear that a vape was found in a seven-year-old’s bag, mistakenly thought to be a sour lolly. This incident highlights a significant issue regarding the accessibility of vaping products to children. The safety and wellbeing of our kids should be a top priority, and it’s crucial for both parents and retailers to ensure that such products are kept out of reach. This serves as a wake-up call to strengthen regulations and increase awareness about the potential dangers of vaping, especially for young and impressionable minds.
 
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