The State Government is preparing to roll out a new education campaign to curb South Australia's worsening e-cigarette problem.
All public high schools across the state will display posters showing the harmful substances found in vapes, such as weed killer and nail polish remover.
A letter from SA's Chief Public Health Officer, Professor Nicola Spurrier, will also be sent to parents and carers to inform them of the dangers.
Health Minister Chris Picton said he hoped educating young people about vapes would stop them from trying e-cigarettes or help them to quit.
"A lot of kids who will take up vaping think that it's a safe alternative, that there's no risk associated, and that's clearly not the case," he said.
"You don't know what chemicals or other products are going in, and certainly not the level of nicotine that's going into these vaping products."
Data from Drug and Alcohol Services South Australia shows the number of 15 to 29-year-olds who vape increased to nearly 8 per cent in 2022, compared to just over 1 per cent in 2017.
Professor Spurrier said she was concerned e-cigarettes were creating a new era of smokers.
"Young people have been manipulated – nicotine should not be in vapes, it's illegal to have nicotine in vapes," she said.
"It's illegal to be selling vapes unless it's a licensed tobacconist and none of those vapes should have nicotine in them.
"When we've had analysis of the vapes, over 85 per cent we've found nicotine and at very high concentrations, with one vape containing 50 times more nicotine than a cigarette," she said.
The campaign aimed at high school students comes just over a week after the federal government announced a crackdown on vaping.
Health Minister Mark Butler announced earlier this month that vapes would be heavily regulated and the importation of all e-cigarettes would be strictly controlled.
Non-prescription vapes will be banned from importation and the federal government said it will work with states and territories to close down the sale of vapes in retail settings.
The tax on tobacco will also increase 5 per cent each year for the next three years, as the government also seeks to curb cigarette smoking through higher costs.
Last month, the South Australian government announced its own crackdown on vaping and e-cigarettes.
Under the proposed laws, smoking and vaping would be banned near schools, shopping centres, beaches, buildings and sporting grounds.
Cigarette vending machines in licensed venues would be outlawed, and fines for selling or supplying tobacco to minors would be doubled.
Opposition spokesperson Vincent Tarzia said while he supported measures to curb vaping, he was concerned about how the proposed laws would be enforced.
"What will the fines be, the penalties be? And how exactly will they be enforced?" he said.
"Will it be police, will it be SA Health? Who is actually going to enforce these new laws?"
Mr Picton said work was underway regarding enforcement, which he said would become easier under the proposed national changes.
"And we'll be having more to say shortly in terms of some interim steps we can take in enforcement in South Australia, but we need those national changes to have a really big impact," he said.
