New Zealand Schools Suspend Students for Smoking and Vaping.

Dec.22.2022
New Zealand Schools Suspend Students for Smoking and Vaping.
New Zealand schools suspend thousands of students due to smoking and vaping, with a 59% increase in sick days.

Since 2020, schools in New Zealand have been suspending students who smoke or use e-cigarettes due to the popularity of these habits among young people. As of now, nearly 20,000 students have been suspended.


A report from the New Zealand Ministry of Education states, "Smoking-related illnesses caused work stoppages for 1,210 people in 2020, which increased to 2,865 people in 2021, making up 59% of the total increase in work-related illnesses during the period of 2020-2021.


A report has stated that among the 75% of individuals who have experienced a rise in numbers between 2020 and 2021, smoking or using electronic cigarettes is considered to be at least partially responsible for the increase.


Ben Youdan, Director of the Smoke-Free 2025 campaign, stated that while they do not want young people to smoke or use e-cigarettes, they also do not want schools to suspend students from their studies as a result.


Youdan suggests discussing with students who use tobacco products to explain health risks and help them quit using tobacco products, as well as providing them with smoking cessation support.


A report has revealed that in 2021, 15,968 students in New Zealand schools were suspended a total of 20,980 times. This is an increase of approximately 2,800 over the previous year.



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