Youth vaping

Vaping – the facts

Vaping harms your health. Here’s what you need to know.

Vaping can damage your health by exposing you to harmful chemicals. These may affect both your physical and mental health.

We know that vaping can damage your lungs and harm the brain, which is still developing and maturing into your late 20s. The long-term effects of vaping aren’t known yet, but what we know right now isn’t great.

There’s no such thing as safe vaping, even occasional vaping can be harmful to your health.

What you need to know

The aerosol (mist or vapour) from vapes is made by heating up liquid chemicals that you breathe in. 

Vapes are battery operated and can look like cigarettes, cigars, pipes, pens or USB drives.

The vape low-down:

  • vaping affects your health now
  • vaping risks your future health.

The Australian Government is changing the laws around vapes. From 1 October, people aged 18 years or over will be able to buy nicotine vapes from a pharmacy, with limited flavours and plain packaging. 

It is still illegal for tobacconists, vape shops and convenience stores to sell any type of vape or vape product. 

Illegal vapes:

  • often do not list their real ingredients
  • can still contain nicotine, even if the label says ‘nicotine free’ 
  • are made with untested/unsafe chemicals, like:
    • formaldehyde (used to preserve corpses in funeral homes) 
    • acetone (ingredient in nail polish remover) 
    • acetaldehyde (used to make plastics) 
    • acrolein (found in weed killer) 
    • heavy metals like nickel, tin and lead. 

Watch this video to find out more about what’s really in an illegal vape.

What vaping does to you

You are exposed to chemicals when you vape. These are some of the things you can experience if you vape:

  • irritated mouth and airways
  • persistent coughing
  • feeling out of breath 
  • feeling nauseous and vomiting
  • headache and dizziness
  • seizures from inhaling too much nicotine or swallowing e-liquid
  • burns or injury if your vape overheats or explodes
  • becoming dependent on the nicotine in vapes
  • feeling more stressed or anxious
  • breathing problems and permanent lung damage
  • harming your brain development.

Short and long-term vaping is dangerous to your health.

Nicotine dependence 

Most vapes available in Australia contain nicotine – even when the label says they don’t.

Nicotine is really addictive and can harm your physical and mental health. Nicotine activates receptors in your brain, which releases a brain chemical called dopamine that makes you feel good.

The more you vape, the more your body gets used to nicotine. When the nicotine levels in your body fade, your brain craves more dopamine. This is nicotine addiction and it can happen quickly. This may mean you get withdrawal symptoms when you don’t vape. 

If you’re thinking about stopping vaping, you’re not alone. Lots of people have quit vaping and you can too. It might take a few goes, but knowing what to expect when you quit and getting support will make it easier for you.

Vaping and your mental health

Vaping and nicotine can impact how your brain develops, affecting your memory, attention, learning and mood. Vaping can also make mental health issues like anxiety and depression worse. There is help available if you’re experiencing mental health difficulties. You can talk to your GP or a trusted health professional or try one of these organisations:

Going vape-free

Thousands of Australians have quit vaping recently or are planning on quitting vaping soon. You can too.

Most vapes in Australia contain nicotine so it’s normal to experience withdrawal from nicotine when you cut down or quit vaping. Your withdrawal symptoms may last from a few days to a few weeks. But the good news is that the symptoms won’t last long and it gets better over time. 

These are some of the withdrawal symptoms you might get:

  • nicotine cravings 
  • feeling irritable or grumpy 
  • finding it hard to concentrate
  • changes in appetite
  • feeling like you have the flu
  • feeling dizzy or having head spins
  • depression
  • finding it hard to sleep (insomnia).

Knowing what to expect when you quit and getting support makes it easier. 

Avoiding vapes altogether is your best move. If you’re currently vaping, there are heaps of benefits to quitting.

Getting help and the right support will help you quit. You’re not alone on the journey. 

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