Everything you need to know about vaping
Posted on August 21, 2024 By Colin
IF YOU ARE LOOKING for comprehensive, easy-to-read and fully referenced information on vaping, please visit the FAQs page on my website. This page is constantly updated with the latest evidence-based information as it is published.
Most of the information applies to all countries, but there is some specific information for Australia, particularly under regulation.
The information is organised under 64 questions. Any suggestions for further topics, how to improve the list or any corrections are very welcome.
Here is the list of topics with links directly to each answer.
The basics
- What is Tobacco Harm Reduction?
- What is vaping?
- Why do people vape?
- How many adult Australians vape?
- Is vaping legal in Australia?
- How do you legally access nicotine liquid?
Safety and health
- Are e-cigarettes less harmful than smoking?
- Is it fair to say that vaping is likely to be at least 95% lower risk than smoking?
- What about the long-term risks?
- But it took decades to find out that smoking was harmful
- Does vaping cause cancer?
- Is vaping harmful to bystanders?
- Isn’t nicotine harmful?
- Does vaping nicotine cause seizures?
- Lung disease
- Does vaping cause cardiovascular disease?
- Does vaping cause depression?
- Is vaping safe in pregnancy?
- Is vaping addictive?
- Isn't vaping just swapping one harmful addiction for another?
- People use vapes more frequently so it must be worse than smoking
- How common is child poisoning?
- What about fires and explosions?
Quitting Smoking
- Does vaping help people quit smoking?
- Could vaping reduce smoking rates in Australia?
- Is vaping a popular quitting aid?
- Should vapers continue to vape after quitting smoking?
- Does vaping by former smokers increase the risk of relapse
- How to stop vaping when you are ready to quit
Youth vaping
- How common is youth vaping?
- Are vapers mostly young people or adults?
- Is youth vaping more common in Australia than in other countries?
- Is vaping a gateway to smoking?
- What are the harms of vaping in young people who have never smoked?
- What is the overall population health impact of youth vaping?
- Does nicotine damage the developing adolescent brain?
- Is vaping creating a new generation addicted to nicotine?
- What can be done to protect young people?
Young adult vaping
Other issues
- Are adult non-smokers taking up vaping?
- Does vaping ‘renormalise’ smoking?
- Is dual use harmful?
- Is vaping cheaper than smoking?
- Reducing the environmental impact of vaping
- The Precautionary Principle
The tobacco industry
Regulation of vaping
- How is vaping currently regulated in Australia?
- How many Australian adults who vape have a prescription?
- Does Australia ban vaping?
- Should flavours be banned?
- Should disposable vapes be banned?
- Should public vaping be banned?
- Should vapes have plain packaging?
- What should the maximum nicotine concentration be?
- Quality and safety standards
- How should vaping products be taxed?
- Should advertising be allowed?
- Who should regulate vaping products?