Smoking and Alcohol

Research on youth vaping has significantly increased over the past decade. While it remains a safe alternative than smoking cigarettes there is concern that vaping can serve as a gateway to traditional cigarette smoking.

Vaping can have serious consequences for young people. Some of the negative health effects associated with vaping include:

• Addiction to Nicotine: Nicotine, which is present in e-cigarettes, is highly addictive. It can harm adolescent brain development and lead to long-term dependence;
• Impact on Mental Health: Nicotine worsens anxiety and depression. It affects memory, concentration, self-control, and attention, especially in developing brains;
• Chemical Exposure: Vaping exposes young people to various chemicals. Although e-cigarettes are often marketed as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes, they still contain harmful substances;
• Lung and Fitness Impact: Vaping can harm lung function and overall fitness. It may lead to decreased lung capacity and endurance;
• Increased Risk of Lung Disease: There is an increased risk of serious lung diseases associated with vaping, including conditions like popcorn lung (bronchiolitis obliterans);
• Other Harmful Substances: Besides nicotine, e-cigarettes contain other harmful substances such as formaldehyde, acrolein, and diacetyl;
• Brain Damage: Vaping can damage parts of the brain responsible for attention span, learning, mood, and impulse control;
• Negative Impact on Memory and Learning: Young people who vape may experience negative effects on memory and their ability to learn new skills.

It is an offence for shops to sell e-cigarettes to under 18s or for an adult to buy e-cigarettes for them.

The long term effects of vaping / E-cigarettes on health are unknown, Although it is safer than smoking conventional cigarettes, vaping is not without risk and young people should be encouraged to find healthier alternatives.

If a young person indicates that they would like to try e-cigarettes as a way of giving up smoking, they should be encouraged to contact the LAC Nurse, their GP or local stop smoking services.

For more information please see Electronic Cigarettes - Evidence and Advice on E-cigarettes (GOV.UK).

Alcohol is a potentially dangerous substance and though its use is socially acceptable the dangers of over consumption are often under played both by consumers and the alcohol industry which targets young people.

Intoxication can lead to boisterous and uncontrolled behaviour among young people which can be disruptive and even dangerous. Young people are particularly susceptible to the effects of drinking alcohol and become intoxicated quickly, because their tolerance to alcohol is low.

Some of the children and young people we look after may have witnessed serious domestic disputes and violence, triggered by alcohol and drunkenness.

The children's home should represent a safe haven for children and young people.

Part of that safety includes not exposing young people to situations and substances which are harmful or could cause them distress.

The majority of children and young people find the behaviour of those who are intoxicated unsettling and / or distressing.

There are serious health risks associated with the consumption of alcohol and the possibility of alcohol dependency in later life should be discussed with young people.

Young people who are under the influence of alcohol could be placing themselves at risk of accidents or abuse.

If staff are concerned that a child/young person has been drinking alcohol, this should be raised with the home’s manager and the child’s social worker as required. Where it becomes evident, or it is suspected, that a child or young person has been drinking alcohol, the most appropriate response will vary dependent on how much the young person has had to drink or how it has effected them. These options are outlined below:

• Offering fluids - water, squash;
• Periodic monitoring and checks by staff - 10 minutes, 30 minutes, hourly, etc;
• Contacting health professionals for advice e.g. G.P.;
• Hospitalisation for day patient or overnight stay if appropriate, etc.

See Alcohol, Young People and the Law (GOV.UK).

All staff working with children have responsibilities in relation to their own alcohol use.

Children's Homes staff are expected to take an active role in discouraging young people from drinking alcohol.

Staff will not consume alcohol when on duty, and should not arrive at work suffering from the effects of over consumption of alcohol when off duty.

Young people should be dissuaded from drinking alcohol and the message that under age drinking is not acceptable must be reinforced with the young people.

Visitors to the children's home should be told about the Home's no alcohol policy.

If a child's visitor is in your opinion drunk they will be asked to return when they are sober.

It may be necessary for staff to use their discretion where a situation arises when a visiting parent arrives at the home under the influence of alcohol.

If the visit to the child/young person goes ahead staff must make sure that the parent is aware that it is not acceptable to visit the home when they are not sober.

Situations will arise where a visit may have to be cancelled because the visitor drunk, but staff should make sure that the situation does not become inflamed or cause the child / young person distress.

Where this happens it will be necessary to inform the child's Social Worker and arrange for a letter to be sent to the parent explaining that intoxicated people are not allowed in the Children's Home because we have a responsibility to safeguard children and staff at the Home.