The National Coordinator for the Irish Bishops’ Drugs Initiative (IBDI) said that communication at a young age is key to prevent vaping and smoking and that awareness needs to be raised. Darren Butler told The Irish Catholic children believe vaping is safe, as differently from alcohol and cigarettes, it has not been a part of any curriculum.
“Regularly in classrooms I am asked why the Government allow drugs like this to be sold and the majority of young people at the young age of 12 years of age would say they think ‘if it’s for sale it has to be safe’.”
Mr Butler said that “young people don’t want a cool parent or a friend, they need and want structure and open communication. Prepare your kids for peer pressure. Discuss what they might say if a friend offers a cigarette or vape.”
Parents should talk with their kids “about smoking and vaping as early as possible. Keeping that communication going as they get older and include other drugs as they enter teenage years, if this is normal for young people to be having these types of conversations it will be much easier for a parent going forward.”
“The IBDI is a needs-based programme and has changed over time to meet the needs of parishes,” Mr Butler said. The majority of the work at the moment is awareness programmes in schools from 6th class Confirmation to Transition Year.
“The IBDI are working on resources for schools and parents to support the young people and The Bishops Conference will be supporting the inclusion of smoking and vaping to be added to The Pledge as traditionally alcohol was the drug that was mentioned,” the coordinator said.
