There are a number of established health risks of using vapes, and more research into their effects is ongoing. In the short-term, vaping can cause:

• irritation of the mouth and airways
• persistent coughing
• nausea and vomiting
• poisoning and seizures from inhaling too much nicotine or ingesting e-liquid
•  burns or injury caused by an e-cigarette overheating or exploding
• nicotine dependence (see below).

The long-term effects of prolonged vaping are still under investigation. However, we know that e-cigarettes contain many chemicals that are harmful to health, including flavouring chemicals and additives with potential inhalation toxicity, contaminants such as toxic metals, and toxic products of chemical reactions that occur during the heating of the e-liquid*. As a result, there are concerns that vaping may lead to:

• cardiovascular disease
• cancer
• respiratory disease
• poor oral and dental health
• poor pregnancy outcomes.

In addition, studies have found that most vapes contain nicotine, even when they say that they don’t. Nicotine is highly addictive and toxic. It is particularly harmful for young people, and can impact attention, learning, memory, and mood, and lead to dependence. There is also a strong association between vaping and future tobacco smoking, and research indicates that young people who vape are more likely to take up smoking.

Vapes are not recommended as a first line treatment for quitting smoking, and they have not been evaluated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for safety, quality, efficacy or performance as a quitting aid. While evidence indicates that e-cigarettes can help some people to reduce or stop smoking tobacco, or to manage nicotine dependence, there are concerns about e-cigarettes’ safety and longer-term health effects. (See FAQ what are the physical health risks of using e-cigarettes (or vapes) for more information).

It is therefore recommended that you try other strategies to quit smoking first, such as behavioural therapy combined with nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) such as patches, gum, lozenges or mouth sprays. These products have been evaluated by the TGA for safety, quality and efficacy and are widely available in Australian pharmacies and supermarkets. Some of these products are also subsidised on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

Speak to your doctor and/or specialised services such as Quitline if you would like to know more about quitting smoking or vaping, or using e-cigarettes as a quitting aid.