What Is Vaping? A Simple Guide for Australians

In Australia, the conversation around vaping is constantly evolving, with new regulations coming into effect and public health campaigns raising awareness. If you’ve been hearing the term “vaping” but aren’t quite sure what it means, you’re not alone. This simple guide is designed to demystify vaping for Australians, explaining what it is, how it works, and what you need to know.

What Exactly Is Vaping?

At its core, vaping is the act of inhaling and exhaling an aerosol, often referred to as “vapour,” produced by an electronic device called an e-cigarette or  iget vape. Unlike traditional cigarettes, which burn tobacco, vapes heat a liquid, turning it into an inhalable mist.

Think of it like a mini fog machine you can hold in your hand. Instead of smoke filled with tar and many of the harmful chemicals found in cigarettes, you’re inhaling a heated aerosol.

How Does a Vape Work? The Basic Components

Most vaping devices, regardless of their size or shape, share a few key components:

• Battery: This powers the device.
• Atomiser (or Coil): This is the heating element, usually a small coil of wire, which gets hot enough to vaporise the e-liquid.
• Tank (or Cartridge): This holds the e-liquid.
• Mouthpiece: Where you inhale the vapour.
• E-liquid (or Vape Juice): This is the liquid that gets heated. It typically contains propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerin (VG), flavourings, and sometimes nicotine.

When you take a puff, the battery activates the atomiser, which heats the e-liquid in the tank. This rapid heating turns the liquid into an aerosol, which you then inhale.

What’s in E-liquid? The “Vapour” Demystified

The composition of e-liquid is a critical aspect of understanding vaping. While the exact ingredients can vary, the common components include:

• Propylene Glycol (PG): A clear, colourless liquid used as a base. It helps produce a “throat hit” similar to smoking and carries flavour effectively.
• Vegetable Glycerin (VG): Another clear, colourless liquid, VG is thicker than PG and produces larger, denser clouds of vapour.
• Flavourings: These are food-grade flavourings that give e-liquids their taste – ranging from fruit and dessert flavours to tobacco and menthol.
• Nicotine (Optional and Regulated): This is where it gets particularly important for Australians. In Australia, the sale of nicotine-containing e-liquids is highly regulated. More on this below.

It’s important to note that while e-liquids don’t contain tobacco, tar, or carbon monoxide – substances known to be harmful in traditional cigarettes – they are not without risk. The long-term effects of inhaling heated PG, VG, and flavourings are still being researched.

Vaping and Nicotine: What Australians Need to Know

This is a crucial point for anyone in Australia considering vaping:

As of October 1, 2021, a prescription is required to legally import or purchase nicotine vaping products in Australia. This means you cannot simply buy nicotine e-liquids from local stores or online retailers without a valid prescription from a registered Australian doctor.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) regulates nicotine vaping products as prescription medicines. This measure is in place to manage the risks associated with nicotine, which is a highly addictive substance, and to prevent uptake by young people.

So, if you see e-liquids for sale in Australia that claim to contain nicotine without requiring a prescription, they are likely being sold illegally. Non-nicotine e-liquids, however, are generally available without a prescription.

Why Do People Vape?

People choose to vape for various reasons, with common motivations including:

• Quitting Smoking: Some individuals use vaping as a tool to help them quit or reduce their reliance on traditional cigarettes, often due to the perception that it’s a less harmful alternative.
• Harm Reduction: For established smokers, vaping can be seen as a way to reduce exposure to the harmful chemicals found in tobacco smoke.
• Social Reasons: Some are drawn to vaping due to social trends, the availability of various flavours, or the perceived “cool” factor.

However, it’s vital to reiterate that for non-smokers, starting to vape introduces new risks, particularly if the e-liquid contains nicotine.

The Evolving Landscape: Australian Regulations and Health Advice

Australia has taken a strong stance on vaping, particularly concerning nicotine. The emphasis is on public health, with efforts to prevent young people from taking up vaping and to ensure that nicotine vaping products are only used under medical supervision for smoking cessation.

Key aspects of the Australian approach include:

• Prescription Requirement for Nicotine: As mentioned, a prescription is mandatory for nicotine vaping products.
• Restrictions on Importation and Sale: Strict rules govern the import and sale of nicotine vaping products.
• Public Health Campaigns: Government and health organisations are running campaigns to raise awareness about the risks of vaping, especially for young people.

It’s crucial for Australians to stay informed about the latest regulations and health advice. Reputable sources like the Department of Health and Aged Care, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), and state and territory health departments provide up-to-date information.

In Conclusion

Vaping involves heating a liquid to create an inhalable aerosol. While it differs from traditional smoking, it’s not without its own considerations, particularly regarding nicotine. For Australians, understanding the prescription requirement for nicotine vaping products and staying informed about health advice is paramount. If you’re a smoker looking to quit, speak to your doctor about all available options, including whether nicotine vaping products might be a suitable, medically supervised pathway for you. For non-smokers, the safest approach remains to avoid vaping altogether.