It’s never too late to quit smoking.  Your body starts repairing the day you stop and the benefits keeps on building over time…

• After only 20 minutes, your heart rate returns to normal and blood pressure drops.
• After 48 hours, all carbon monoxide is out of your blood. Your senses of taste and smell start improving, and your lungs are clearing out mucus.
• After a year your risk of having a heart attack is halved compared with a smoker’s.
• In the longer term, you dramatically reduce your risk of a stroke, lung cancer and other cancers.
• Financially you could save over $11,300 a year! (Based on smoking a pack of 20 cigarettes a day)

Vaping involves using a vaping device to heat e-liquid (nicotine in propylene glycol or vegetable glycerine) that is inhaled and exhaled, producing a visible mist.  Vaping delivers nicotine and mimics the action and sensation of smoking. 

Vaping nicotine is only available to smokers over the age of 18 who have been unsuccessful at quitting smoking using first line treatments such as Champix, Zyban, and nicotine replacement therapy (e.g. nicotine patches, gums, sprays, inhalers, lozenges and tablets).

There is growing evidence that vaping can help smokers quit, with studies showing vaping nicotine to be 53-69% more effective than nicotine replacement therapy.  In comparison with prescription medication, vaping was found to be more effective for smoking cessation. 

Research suggests that vaping is a more successful quitting aid when the initial dose matches the smoker’s normal nicotine intake. In addition, smokers are more successful in quitting if they are able to adjust the strength and flavour of their nicotine vaping product to suit their needs and preferences. 

Vaping is considered a safer alternative to smoking, but it not risk-free.  Vapour contains low levels of toxic chemicals shown to have some harmful effects; and nicotine itself is a toxic poison in high doses and if ingested. 

Since the long-term health effects of nicotine vaping products are still unknown, dual and long-term use is discouraged.  Instead, vaping should be considered as a quitting aid where nicotine exposure is gradually reduced over time by decreasing liquid nicotine concentrations.  In addition, unlike a cigarette, vaping never goes out and this can lead to far more inhalations on a device than on cigarettes.  Patients are therefore advised to be mindful of daily liquid volume use, and to adjust concentrations accordingly. 

In Australia, nicotine vaping products are not registered therapeutic goods, and therefore their safety, efficacy, and quality have not been established. A lack of standardisation in nicotine vaping products and vaping devices increases the uncertainties associated with their use.

Freebase nicotine is the original and purest form of nicotine.  It is mainly used in low concentrations (3-20mg/ml) in high powered vaping devices such as box mods.  It creates the familiar ‘throat hit’ that is part of the smoking experience, but it can be harsh and irritating on the throat at higher concentrations.

Nicotine salts are made by adding benzoic, lactic or salicylic acid to freebase nicotine. These acids lower the pH level of the mix making it smoother to inhale, and possible to deliver higher levels of nicotine (typically 20-60mg/ml) without throat irritation.  As nicotine salts are absorbed more quickly than freebase nicotine, it has a more rapid effect similar to nicotine from smoking. 

There is approximately 10mg of nicotine in a standard cigarette, of which approximately 2-3mg is absorbed. A packet of 20 cigarettes therefore provides around 50mg of ‘bioavailable’ nicotine. If using a liquid of 50mg/ml in a vaping device, it is important to remember that using more than 1ml of this strength liquid per day equates to smoking more than a packet of cigarettes in terms of nicotine use.

All vaping devices have a tank or ‘pod’ (detachable cartridge) for e-liquid, a heating coil and a battery (usually rechargeable).  Your choice of device is based on ease of use, similarity to a cigarette, nicotine delivery, vaping style, size and cost. 

For new vapers, closed devices with sealed, pre-filled pods are recommended as they avoid contact with nicotine and are very easy to use.

More experienced users can try open, refillable pod vapes and vape pens.  These allow for the addition of flavours, and provide greater control over desired nicotine concentrations.  They are more complex to use and have a higher risk of poisoning than closed devices.

Nicotine replacement therapies (including sprays, patches, lozenges, chews and gums) do not require a prescription and will continue to be available from pharmacies and some retail outlets.

Visit the TGA website for further information: https://www.tga.gov.au/nicotine-vaping-products-information-consumers

Many Australian pharmacies stock nicotine vaping products that meet TGO-110 standards and regulations. These prescriptions can be sent directly to the pharmacy as an e-scripts/single use QR Code. Check with your local or preferred pharmacy if they stock the products you need.

Nicotine prescriptions are valid for 12 months.

In Australia, liquid nicotine is now classified as a prescription only product, which makes it illegal to buy, possess, or vape nicotine without a prescription from a registered Australian medical practitioner.  Vaping devices for use with these substances may be supplied without a prescription, but can only be supplied in pharmacy settings by registered pharmacists or other persons authorised under state or territory laws to supply prescription medicines.

The importation of disposable vapes, irrespective of nicotine content, is banned subject to very limited exceptions (e.g. scientific and medical research). This means that patients cannot purchase disposable vapes online from an overseas supplier, even with a prescription.

The importation of all vapes under the personal importation scheme ended on 1st March 2024 . Patients cannot order vapes (including reusable vapes) directly from overseas, even with a prescription.

Travellers entering Australia are banned from bringing vapes into the country, other than for their treatment or the treatment of someone they are caring for, subject to very strict quantity limits.

For more information, please visit: https://www.tga.gov.au/products/unapproved-therapeutic-goods/vaping-hub/