Vaping

Vaping refers to the use of an electronic device (e-cigarette) to heat liquids, producing aerosol, which is then inhaled.

Vapes generally contain a mixture of solvents, chemicals and flavourings/ sweeteners.³

Most illegal vapes in Australia contain nicotine - even if it doesn’t say so on the packet/ device.²

Vapes can also contain other drugs, such as THC (cannabis) e-liquids.

Only therapeutic vapes are legal in Australia. All non-therapeutic vapes and disposable vapes are illegal.^{1, 2}

Therapeutic vapes can only be purchased at pharmacies and must meet certain requirements set by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). They can only be purchased by people quitting smoking, or managing a nicotine dependence (addiction).^{1, 2}

Rules around access to therapeutic vapes vary by state and territory - visit our page on vaping regulation to find out more.

We know that vaping can increase the risk of certain health harms - including injuries and burns (from faulty devices), lung injury and disease, and nicotine dependence.^3-6

Visit our About Vaping webpage to find out more about the health impacts of vaping. 

In the short to medium term, it’s likely that using therapeutic vapes poses a much smaller risk to health than smoking tobacco, but we don’t know yet what the long-term impacts might be.^3,7,8

Using vapes has been found to help some people quit smoking, compared to traditional nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) such as patches and gum.⁹

But given the potential health risks, they aren’t recommended as the first treatment option in Australia for someone wanting to quit.¹⁰

There are strategies, tips and supports available to help quit vaping.

Vsit our Helping young people to quit vaping page, or call Quitline on 13 78 48 for advice and support.

Visit the Quit website for quitting resources – including making a quit plan, quitting tips and tactics and resources and factsheets for parents.

1. Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Changes to the regulation of vapes. 2024. [cited 2025 Dec 11]
2. Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. About vaping and e-cigarettes. 2025. [cited 2025 Dec 11]
3. Ghuman A, Choudhary P, Kasana J, Kumar S, Sawhney H, Bhat R, et al. A Systematic Literature Review on the Composition, Health Impacts, and Regulatory Dynamics of Vaping. Cureus. 2024;16(8):e66068. doi: 10.7759/cureus.66068. [cited 2025 Dec 11]
4. Banks E, Yazidjoglou A, Brown S, Nguyen M, Martin M, Beckwith K, et al. Electronic cigarettes and health outcomes: umbrella and systematic review of the global evidence. The Medical journal of Australia. 2023;218(6):267-75. doi: 10.5694/mja2.51890. [cited 2025 Dec 11]
5. Golder S, Hartwell G, Barnett LM, Nash SG, Petticrew M, Glover RE. Vaping and harm in young people: umbrella review. Tobacco Control. 2025 [cited 2025 Dec 11]
6. Benowitz NL. Pharmacology of nicotine: addiction, smoking-induced disease, and therapeutics. Annual review of pharmacology and toxicology. 2009;49:57-71. doi: 10.1146/annurev.pharmtox.48.113006.094742. [cited 2025 Dec 11]
7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Tobacco and Cancer. 2023. [cited 2025 Dec 11]
8. McNeill A, Simonavičius E, Brose L, Taylor E, East K, Zuikova E, et al. Nicotine vaping in England: 2022 evidence update summary. Office for Health Improvement & Disparities, King’s College London, ; 2022. [cited 2025 Dec 11]
9. Lindson N, Butler AR, McRobbie H, Bullen C, Hajek P, Wu AD, et al. Electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2025(1). doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD010216.pub9. [cited 2025 Dec 11]
10. Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Guidance on the use of vapes for smoking cessation or the management of nicotine dependence. 2024. [cited 2025 Dec 11]