澳洲青少年電子煙使用率顯著下降
Teen Vaping Rates Drop Significantly in Australia
澳洲的公共衛生達到了一個重大的轉捩點，青少年吸電子菸的比率呈現顯著下降。
Australia has reached a major turning point in public health as teen vaping rates show a significant decline.
根據「Generation Vape」計畫的研究顯示，在14至17歲的青少年中，電子菸的使用盛行率從2023年初的17.5%下降至2025年4月的14.6%。
Research from the 'Generation Vape' project reveals that among 14- to 17-year-olds, the prevalence of vaping dropped from 17.5% in early 2023 to 14.6% by April 2025.
令人鼓舞的是，現今超過85%的青少年表示他們從未接觸過電子菸。
Encouragingly, over 85% of teens now report they have never vaped.
專家指出，這種習慣正逐漸失去其「酷」的特質，許多青少年現在形容它很「噁心」。
Experts suggest that the habit is losing its 'cool' factor, with many young people now describing it as 'gross.'
這項成功歸功於澳洲領先全球的策略，包括對拋棄式電子菸的嚴格進口禁令、將銷售限制在藥局，以及強制性的素面包裝規定。
This success is attributed to Australia's world-leading strategy, which includes strict import bans on disposable vapes, limiting sales to pharmacies, and mandatory plain packaging.
此外，政府嚴厲的執法行動查扣了1000萬件非法產品。
Additionally, aggressive government enforcement led to the seizure of 10 million illicit products.
諸如「OurFutures」計畫與「Pave」應用程式等教育措施，更進一步賦予青少年拒絕吸菸的能力。
Education initiatives like the 'OurFutures' program and the 'Pave' app have further empowered teens to stay smoke-free.
儘管非法市場仍是一項挑戰，但這些綜合措施證明了強有力的監管與公共意識能有效改變社會規範，使電子菸對年輕一代的吸引力大幅降低。
While the illicit market remains a challenge, these combined efforts demonstrate that robust regulation and public awareness can effectively shift social norms, making vaping much less attractive to the younger generation.
