Teenagers Say Vapes Are Easy to Get

By Olivana Lathouris

Topic: Smoking

Wednesday, 1 July 2026, at 6:57 am

Many teenagers told the ABC that vapes are still easy to get despite the government's efforts to stop them.

In short:

Teenagers in the Northern Territory say vapes are still easy to get.

A researcher found that a program to stop vaping in some schools in NSW, WA, and Queensland has been successful.

What's next?

The NT government is reviewing laws to stop retailers from selling illegal tobacco and nicotine products to children.

Vapes are easy to find and use, even at school, according to some Northern Territory high school students.

Charlotte was introduced to vaping at 13, like many of her friends.

She said, 'Vapes were introduced to me in year 7.'

She thinks that's the age when most people start vaping.

Now in year 10, Charlotte says vaping is common and hard to avoid.

Teens in the NT say it's easy to get vapes.

Charlotte said, 'In high school, vaping became normal.'

Olivia, also in year 10, said school bathrooms are a place where people vape.

She said, 'When I go to the bathroom, someone might offer me a vape, and I might take a puff.'

Many teens only vape sometimes.

Olivia said some of her friends are already addicted to vapes.

Some of Olivia's friends need to vape as soon as they wake up, even at sleepovers.

Social media and convenience stores sell illegal vapes.

Students told the ABC that they can easily find vapes on social media, from older siblings, or from dealers who buy cheap vapes overseas.

Vaping is popular on social media apps.

Olivia said, 'It's easy to find vapes on Snapchat.'

Sellers post about vapes on their stories, and it's easy to buy them.

They'll deliver vapes to you or sell them at school, and you just give them the money.

Lucy said convenience stores that sell illegal nicotine products often sell to children and teenagers.

She said, 'You just need to show them some kind of ID, and they'll sell it to you.'

Teens say it's easy to buy vapes at convenience stores in the NT.

Measures to stop vaping are not working.

Only 83 students out of 30,000 were suspended for vaping in 2025.

The NT Department of Education has taken steps to stop vaping, including changing bathroom designs and installing sensors.

Miranda Watt said, 'Prevention is the best way to stop vaping, and that's what we're focusing on.'

Miranda Watt says schools are focusing on prevention.

Lauren Gardner worked on a program called Our Futures to educate students about the risks of vaping.

The program has been successful, with students who participated being 65% less likely to vape.

Lauren Gardner researches vaping among students.

Dr. Gardner said many schools are using methods that aren't backed by research, which can make things worse.

Only 12 out of 103 schools in the NT are using the Our Futures program.

There are concerns about opioid poisoning in vapes.

Most students are worried about the long-term health effects of vaping.

Nicotine-based vapes can cause lung and oral cancer.

Charlotte is worried about the risks to her fertility.

She said, 'I want to have children and live a healthy life without being addicted to vapes.'

While vaping rates have decreased among young people, health professionals are still concerned.

NT Health chief pharmacist Samuel Keitaanpaa said retailers who sell illegal vapes to children are being predatory.

Sam Keitaanpaa says vapes are designed to get people addicted.

Vapes are made to get people hooked, according to Mr. Keitaanpaa.

There are growing concerns about opioids and other harmful substances being added to vapes.

Mr. Keitaanpaa said, 'Our biggest fear is that kids will try these things and end up in hospital or worse.'

Sam Keitaanpaa says there are fears of harmful substances being added to vapes.

Mr. Keitaanpaa acknowledged that more retailers are selling illegal nicotine products.

The NT is reviewing its laws to give stronger penalties to retailers who sell vapes to children.

Mr. Keitaanpaa said, 'If you sell vapes to children, you will be shut down and investigated.'

*Not their real names.

Wednesday, 1 July 2026, at 6:57 am

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