Vaping Information
Our communities are seeing an alarming rise in the popularity of vapes.
First introduced in 2003, vapes (or e-cigarettes) are battery powered devices that work by heating a cartridge of vape liquid to vapour which is then inhaled by the user. They can often look similar to cigarettes, cigars, highlighter pens or USBs.
Due to the relative newness to the market, researchers are still learning what long term effects vapes have on our health.
It has already been found that some vaping devices contain high levels of nicotine, equating to the same amounts contained in 20 packets of cigarettes.1 This makes vapes highly addictive and hard to quit.
Marketed to our young people, tobacco companies use a variety of techniques to draw in younger audiences. These techniques include brightly coloured packaging, flavoured liquids and often a much lower price point than traditional cigarettes, while also promoting inaccurate levels of nicotine (often much higher than advertised).
It is against the law to sell a vape or vape liquid to a person under the age of 18, whether or not it contains nicotine.2
There are hundreds of chemicals found in vapes including:
- Nicotine - the addiction causing chemical found in cigarettes
- Formaldehyde – Chemical used to stop decomposition and preserve corpses.
- Heavy metals – Metals such as lead and nickel which have been found in even greater quantities than what exists in cigarettes.
- Solvents – A substance used in cleaning products and acetone (nail polish remover).
- Volatile organic compounds – Chemicals that evaporate at room temperature and give off VOCs are found in many common household products, such as paints and cleaning products.3
- Carcinogenic chemicals – Hundreds of cancer-causing chemicals.
- Flavouring – Vapes may include flavouring that’s safe in food and drinks but not safe when inhaled.4
Are you ready to quit?
Yarn with your GP or local Aboriginal Medical Service for a confidential yarn about quitting.
Quitline is also available to all Mob looking to quit vaping or smoking. Quitline offers culturally relevant support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Contact 13 7848 to have a confidential yarn about quitting.
Learn more about how to quit here.


References
- NSW Health. (2023). Vaping evidence summary. https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/tobacco/Pages/vaping-evidence-summary.aspx
- Queensland Health. (2021). Electronic cigarettes. https://www.health.qld.gov.au/public-health/topics/atod/tobacco-laws/electronic-cigarettes
- Banks, E., Yazidjoglou, A., Brown, S., Nguyen, M., Martin, M., Beckwith, K., Daluwatta, A., Campbell, S., & Joshy, G. (2023). Electronic cigarettes and health outcomes: umbrella and systematic review of the global evidence. Medical Journal of Australia, 218(6), 267–275. https://doi.org/10.5694/mja2.51890
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US), National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (US), & Office on Smoking and Health (US). (2010). How Tobacco Smoke Causes Disease: The Biology and Behavioral Basis for Smoking-Attributable Disease: A Report of the Surgeon General. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21452462/