Vaping

Vaping’s a hot topic right now.

And a lot’s being said about vaping and its effects – but there’s also some confusing or conflicting info out there.

So, make sure you have all the latest, evidence-based facts to share with parents and young people at your club.

The facts

Vaping refers to the use of an electronic device (e-cigarette) to heat liquids that produce a vapour, which is then inhaled.

Various substances can be vaped, including:

  • nicotine (which is the main psychoactive drug in tobacco)
  • nicotine-free ‘e-liquids’ made from a mixture of solvents, sweeteners, other chemicals and flavourings
  • other drugs, e.g. THC (cannabis) e-liquids

Regulation of therapeutic (legal) vapes is changing in Australia. Therapeutic vapes require a prescription until October 1, 2024. After that, they can be bought from pharmacies by anyone 18 and over, without a prescription.1

To find out more about these changes visit the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s vaping hub or the Government’s vaping webpage.

Some vapes contain nicotine and concentrations can vary. Many vapes sold illegally in Australia do contain nicotine – even though it might not say so on the packaging.2,3

Therapeutic vapes sold legally can have a certain amount of nicotine in them, or have zero nicotine.1

We know that vaping can increase the risk of certain health harms - including injuries, burns (from faulty devices), lung disease and nicotine dependence.4,5-8 Research based on animal studies shows nicotine may negatively affect brain development, impacting things like learning and attention.9

But a 2022 review didn’t find any available evidence as to how vaping affects teenage brain development. More research is needed on this and other potential harms, and we don’t know what the long-term health impacts of e-cigarettes might be yet.6

Nicotine is addictive. Repeated use of nicotine vapes can lead to dependence, where the brain relies on the regular release of dopamine from nicotine, and without it can go into withdrawal.8 Nicotine withdrawal symptoms include:

  • irritability
  • anxiety
  • cravings
  • having trouble concentrating
  • sleep problems
  • feeling sad or depressed.8

Many vapes don’t state they contain nicotine, even though they do, and often at high strengths.

There’s a lot we don’t understand yet about vaping. But we do know that young people who vape are more likely to start smoking tobacco.5,10,11

And using e-cigarettes is linked to greater mental ill health among young people.12 We don’t fully understand yet why this is, or if vapes cause mental health issues.5,12

Using vapes has been found to help some people quit smoking, compared to traditional nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), such as patches and gum.13

But given the potential health risks, they aren’t recommended as the first treatment option in Australia for someone wanting to quit.14