Ever wonder what's actually in a vape? Now you can find out, thanks to a new sculpture and information sessions at West Gippsland Arts Centre.
The sculpture, titled 'What's Really in a Vape?', is a VicHealth initiative, and looks to inform people, particularly young people, on the hidden dangers of vaping and what chemicals they're putting into their lungs.
It comes as statistics from Quit Victoria revealed over 77,000 Victorian adults who had never smoked before began vaping between 2018 to 2022.
More than half of the adults who vaped in 2022 were aged between 18 and 29.
Recently on display at Scienceworks in Melbourne, it was brought to Warragul on a temporary residency thanks to a joint effort by West Gippsland Healthcare Group and Baw Baw Shire Council and will remain at the arts centre until Monday November 27.
Speaking at the sculpture's unveiling last week, WGHG allied community health director Audra Fenton said vaping's growing popularity among young people was "very concerning"
"The damage they are going to do is considerable and will create future problems," she said.
Gippsland Regional Public Health Unit manager Andi Walters said young vapers were three times more likely to smoke cigarettes later in life.
"We do a lot of preventative work and we want to make sure people make healthy choices so they don't have to go to a hospital," she said.
Warragul police officer Warren Briggs said as a parent, vaping worried him.
"We need to make sure young people have the right information so they can make informed decisions about their health," he said.
To see the sculpture, the arts centre will host a free public education session delivered by the founder and director of Drug Education Australia Sharon Torpey on Thursday November 16. Bookings are essential and can be made at the arts centre website.