This week, Powys Teaching Health Board and Powys County Council have jointly launched a new campaign aimed at raising awareness of the potential harms of vaping to young people in the county.

Recent figures from the School Health Research Network (SHRN) suggest that while the number of young people in Powys who smoke tobacco is continuing to decline, Vaping is on the increase. Across Wales 5 per cent of young people are weekly users of vapes, with 1 in 5 young people in Powys admitting to having tried vaping.

The campaign was co-designed with students from Crickhowell High School, as well as members of Brecon and Llandrindod Wells Youth Club, and plays on the bright colours and fruit flavours used in the marketing of vape devices. The campaign hopes to adjust the perceptions around vaping being cool and being cleaner and safe raising awareness of the potential harms of vaping, and to encourage young people to reach out for support to quit vaping.

Mererid Bowley, Executive Director of Public Health, Powys Teaching Health Board said: “The simple message is, if you don’t smoke, then you shouldn’t start vaping.

“I would urge parents to share the campaign far and wide, and to discuss the risks of vaping with their children, to raise awareness of its potential harms, and support preventing a future public health crisis.”