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E-cigarettes are devices that make an aerosol by heating a liquid that people breathe in. People call e-cigarettes ‘vapes’ and talk about using e-cigarettes as ‘vaping’.
Vapes are battery operated and can be disposable or sold as pod devices.
The e-liquid in vapes contains a range of chemicals and may include nicotine.
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Vapes come in different shapes and sizes. Some are made to look like other objects, like cigarettes, cigars, pipes, pens or USB devices.
Vapes can have flavours added to the e-liquid and this can make them smell and taste sweet. Some vapes smell like incense or lollies.
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Over 200 unique chemicals have been found in illegal vapes, including formaldehyde, nicotine and heavy metals.
Most illegal vapes sold in Australia contain nicotine – even when the packaging says they don’t. This may mean you are dependent on nicotine and not know it.
Vapes can contain high levels of nicotine. The label is unlikely to say how much nicotine it contains or may say ‘nicotine-free’ even if it isn’t.
All vapes can have dangerous substances in the liquids and the aerosols. Some chemicals found in vapes are known to be harmful, like:
- formaldehyde (used in industrial glues and for preserving corpses in hospitals and funeral homes)
- acetone (generally found in nail polish remover)
- acetaldehyde (used in chemicals, perfumes, and plastics)
- acrolein (commonly found in weedkiller)
- heavy metals like nickel, tin, and lead.
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Vapes don’t always list all the ingredients they contain on the pack. Vapes can have nicotine in them, even if they are labelled ‘nicotine-free’.
Vapes can be labelled incorrectly. Sometimes the ingredients list is not accurate or not complete. While the packaging might list some ingredients, it may not include all the chemicals in the e-liquid.
We don’t know all the ingredients in vapes and the ones we do know may be harmful to you. This is why the Australian Government is bringing in new laws to protect the health and wellbeing of young people from the harms of vapes.
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Short- and long-term vaping is dangerous to your health. All the long-term effects of vaping aren’t known yet but what we know right now isn’t great. Some of the short-term risks you're exposed to if you vape are:
- lung inflammation and throat irritation
- persistent coughing
- breathing problems such as shortness of breath and wheezing, which can also decrease physical performance
- feeling nausea and
- swelling, bleeding and redness of the gums
- dizziness and light headedness
- 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 anxious or irritable because of nicotine withdrawals
- permanent lung damage
- a temporary loss or change in taste
- trouble with your asthma
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Vaping can damage your short- and long-term health.
- The nicotine in vapes is addictive and you can become dependent on it.
- You can make you feel anxious or irritable when not vaping.
- Vaping can cause breathing problems and permanent lung damage.
- Vaping can harm brain development in young people.
Some chemicals found in vapes are known to cause cancer. Because vaping is relatively new, we don’t know all of the long-term effects yet.
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Nicotine, a chemical that’s in most vapes in Australia, is addictive.
Nicotine poisoning can happen if the liquid nicotine in a vape is swallowed, or if you have too much in your body. With nicotine poisoning, you can initially:
- feel nauseous
- vomit
- feel dizzy or have head spins
- feel confused
- have headaches
- experience your heart rate changing.
Later, you might also:
- have diarrhoea
- experience shallow breathing
- lose your appetite
- feel weak
- feel tired.
People talk about nicotine poisoning as getting ‘nic-sick’. Nicotine poisoning used to be rare, but recently it’s become more common because of vaping.
If you suspect that someone has been poisoned from a vape, get medical help immediately. You can call the Poisons Information Line 24 hours a day from anywhere in Australia on 13 11 26.
If the person is showing signs of being seriously ill, such as vomiting, loss of consciousness, drowsiness or seizures (fits), call triple zero (000) for an ambulance, or take the person to the closest emergency department.
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Nicotine is highly addictive and one of the most toxic poisons. It can:
- harm your brain development
- affect your attention, how you learn, and your memory
- affect your mood.
Nicotine activates receptors in the brain. When these receptors are activated, they release a brain chemical called dopamine, which makes you feel good.
As the nicotine levels in the body fade, the brain craves more dopamine. The longer someone has been vaping nicotine, the more dopamine they need to feel good. People become dependent on nicotine to create this feeling.
Nicotine dependence can develop quickly. Once people are dependent on nicotine, they will experience withdrawal symptoms without it. This includes difficultly concentrating and feeling nervous, restless, irritable, or anxious.
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It’s illegal to sell vapes – even if the vape doesn’t contain nicotine – to someone who’s under 18 in Australia. This includes online selling.
Read up on the vaping laws in Australia, including information on the legal access of therapeutic vapes through participating pharmacies for people under 18 years.
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It’s great that you’ve decided to quit vaping! There are so many benefits to your physical and mental health in quitting.
Quitting vaping can be tough – the nicotine found in many vapes is highly addictive. Don’t be discouraged if it takes a few attempts for you to quit and stop completely.
It’s normal to experience nicotine withdrawal when you stop vaping. Symptoms can include cravings, irritability, finding it hard to concentrate in appetite, flu-like symptoms, dizziness, depression and insomnia. Nicotine withdrawal can be tough but the good news is that the symptoms usually don’t last long and it gets better over time.
Making a quit plan and getting support can make quitting easier. Speak to your doctor, health professional, family or trusted friends to help you on your quitting journey and keep you on track.
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While it may seem like vaping relieves anxiety, in reality it can actually make you feel more stressed and anxious. The nicotine found in many vapes is highly addictive and you can quickly become dependent.
Symptoms of nicotine withdrawal can include irritability, difficulty concentrating, depression, and insomnia. When you vape it might seem to relieve these withdrawal symptoms, but it’s only temporary.
If you’re experiencing mental health difficulties, support is available.
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Lots of people have already quit vaping. You can too. There are different kinds of support to help you quit and stay vape-free. Find what works for you!
Read up
If you’ve decided to quit, you can read up on what it’s like to go vape-free. Quitting can be easier when you know what to expect.
Get support
It’s a good idea to get support when you quit. Talk to someone about quitting – whether it’s a service like Quit, or a trusted friend or family member. Quitting vapes can be tough, but you don’t have to do it alone. It can be easier to quit with a friend.
Plan on it
Lots of people find it easier to quit when they have a plan. Your quit plan is unique to you, but there are templates, tools and ideas to help you get started. Download the free My QuitBuddy app – it includes great features to help you plan and quit successfully. Age restrictions may apply – check your app store for details.
Find your quit inspo
There are so many good reasons to quit vaping. If you’re finding quitting tough, it helps to remind yourself of what inspired you to quit. We’ve listed a few here – what’s yours?
Keep going
If you’re trying to quit, you might be having cravings and finding it difficult to give up vapes. Don’t let this get you down – remember why you want to quit. Lots of people have found it takes a few tries before they are completely vape-free, and that’s ok. Keep trying and don’t let setbacks stop you. It also helps to figure out what situation or feelings make you want to vape, so you can plan ahead and avoid these triggers while you’re trying to quit.
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There is no strong research that supports the use of other nicotine products, such as pouches, to help people quit smoking or vaping. There is evidence that these products may be harmful to your heath and will keep you hooked on nicotine.
These products are different to Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) and have not been tested or approved for use in Australia.
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Using other nicotine products is not good for your health or a risk-free alternative to smoking or vaping.
These products, such as nicotine pouches, are not considered NRT and often contain high levels of nicotine (even if the packaging doesn’t say so) which is highly addictive. They may also contain other unknown and dangerous ingredients which can be harmful to your health.
Early research shows that oral nicotine products are linked to mouth lesions, upset stomach, sore mouth and throat, nausea and nicotine addiction. The long-term health impacts are unknown.
If you want to become nicotine free – there are many safe and effective products, as well as services, available to support you to quit. Your doctor, Quitline counsellor or trusted health professional can help you find the best option that works for you.
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