A cartoon story of a teen coming face-to-face with a vape will be rolled out across schools nationally, which researchers say can stop the next generation of addiction.
Anti-vaping program OurFutures has been approved for the national curriculum until 2028, involving an interactive cartoon co-designed by students and teachers telling early teens about the effects of vaping and how to refuse one.
Those who received the cartoon education were less likely to vape compared to those with a standard health education on the issue, according to a trial by the University of Sydney's Matilda Centre.
OurFutures is aimed at students in years 7 and 8, with the trial finding them 65 per cent less likely to vape or start vaping in the following 12 months.
"Education, prevention, demand reduction is a critical part of our vaping strategy, we've also been online supporting influencers to promote positive messages about vaping or healthy messages about vaping online," Health Minister Mark Butler told reporters in announcing government approval for the program on Tuesday.
The Matilda Centre's Lauren Gardner said the average onset age for vaping is 14, and harmful patterns can be prevented by targeting the age group.
The characters are also teens as students are more likely to accept "peer-to-peer" messaging than from authority figures such as teachers or police.
"It allows them to immerse themselves in that story and think 'OK, if one of my peers can do it this way, this is how I can apply it in my own way'," Dr Gardner said.
The rollout comes as the government continues cracking down on the regulated substance, with vapes only able to be legally purchased from pharmacies.
Almost $500 billion worth of illicit vapes have been seized at the border since January 2024, but vape shops and tobacconists are leading a rise in black market sales according to a report by research project Generation Vape.
Mr Butler said while that remains an issue, it is more expensive to buy a vape now than previously.
Since tighter laws on the flavoured-air substances came into effect in July 2024, smoking rates have increased and vaping rates have only slightly decreased among adults, data from Roy Morgan has shown.
