Social science will need to play critical role in ongoing vaping crackdown
Experts argue that social science is essential to understand and deter adolescent vaping trends.Summary
While policymakers have identified vaping among adolescents as a priority, experts emphasize that long-term deterrence requires understanding the social psychology behind the trend. Professor Charles Young notes that vaping often signals status and belonging to teenagers sensitive to peer norms, and that health warnings have limited impact because risks feel distant. To address this, resources like 'Seeing through the haze' and the NSW Health Vaping Toolkit are being used to educate students and parents. Young argues that while health warnings are important, new laws and stricter penalties for illegal sellers are also crucial. He suggests that stronger regulation may reduce demand by limiting suppliers and increasing costs, but consistent and visible enforcement is paramount for these measures to be effective.
(Source：EducationHQ)
