How to get nicotine vape juice in Australia

Quitting smoking is a challenging journey, but with the right tools and support, it is achievable. One effective aid in this process is nicotine vape juice, which can help reduce cravings and ease withdrawal symptoms.

Vaping works by heating a nicotine vape juice (also known as e-liquid) in order to create an aerosol (also known as vapour) that can be inhaled.

With March 2024’s restrictions on the importation and sale of all non-therapeutic vaping products (such as those found in tobacconists and convenience stores), these potentially dangerous options will continue to become harder and more expensive to purchase illegally.

However, there are legal ways to get nicotine vape juice and nicotine vaping products (NVPs) – we’ll be discussing that in this post.

Chat to a prescriber
  Bulk-billed phone consultations
  TGA-authorised clinicians
  Nicotine vaping scripts available

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Can You Buy Nicotine Liquid in Australia? The Role of NVPs in Smoking Cessation

Under Australian law, it is illegal to buy, possess, or use liquid nicotine for vaping without a prescription from a registered Australian medical practitioner.

Lower-powered NVPs with higher concentration nicotine vape juice are the most suitable for smoking cessation. This is because they minimise the risk of contaminants due to the minimal vapour while maximising the nicotine intake to address your cravings.

Nicotine delivery is based on the following aspects:

• The concentration of nicotine in the vape juice; and
• The power output of the e-cigarette device itself.

Where Can I Buy Nicotine Liquid in Australia?

For those wondering how to buy nicotine liquid in Australia, lower-powered NVPs of this nature are currently available in-store throughout most major pharmacies nationwide.

Higher-powered devices or open systems with lower-concentration nicotine vape juice produce increased vapour (cloud) density and stronger flavours. However, this increased vapour increases the risk of contaminants while providing minimal nicotine intake.

With the ban on imported NVPs, the sale of high-powered devices and related components will cease, leaving only low-powered therapeutic products available in pharmacies via prescription.

Avoiding Illegal Nicotine Vape Juice

Purchasing nicotine vape juice from unregulated sources, such as convenience stores or tobacconists, is illegal and strongly discouraged. These products often lack quality control and can contain harmful substances. 

What Product is Right For Me?

The first question you need to ask yourself is what am I wanting to achieve with vaping?.’

“I want to quit smoking.”

Your best option is to visit your local pharmacy. NVPs from pharmacies are made under stringent pharmaceutical standards on the manufacturing process and ingredients, are toxicologically assessed for inhalation, are locally insured, and are specifically designed to help you stop smoking.

These legal vaping devices are available in most major pharmacies, including Chemist Warehouse, Terry White and Priceline. Click here for more information.

Illicit NVPs (such as those in vape stores and tobacconists) are imported under the radar, just like illicit tobacco and drugs, and are made as cheaply as possible for maximum profits.

“I want to quit, but I want to use a specific type of device/flavour”

If you’re serious about quitting smoking, your primary goal should be to stop smoking, not to seek out specific flavours or larger vapour clouds. 

While we recognise this had resulted from advertisements by black market actors and sellers of illegal NVPs, focusing on stopping smoking rather than asking yourself, ‘Can’t it be tastier?’ should be the top priority.

We recommend popping into your local GP and having a chat about your options.

“I just want to vape on the weekend or for fun”

If you’re not a smoker trying to quit smoking, you should not use nicotine vape juice or e-cigarettes in general. It’s important to remember that it’s very easy to become dependent on nicotine and that dependence normally starts with casual use.

If you’re currently smoking and/or trying to quit, vaping while continuing to smoke (known as ‘dual-use’) is proven to have little, if any, positive effect on your long-term health.

Your goal should always be to cease smoking as soon as possible.

Fortunately, requiring a nicotine prescription before buying NVPs and having a smoking cessation GP will make sure you won’t go down this path.

How to Get Nicotine Vapes in Australia

In order to purchase, possess and use nicotine vape juice or nicotine-containing e-cigarettes anywhere in Australia, you need a valid prescription from a doctor.

It’s helpful to have a nicotine prescription. As mentioned, it will prevent dual-use and using NVPs improperly (even if they came from a pharmacy). Here are the steps you can follow to access nicotine vape juice in Australia:

Go Through First-Line Solutions

Some motivated smokers can handle quitting cold turkey just fine and see success within a few tries, but oftentimes, smokers have strong withdrawals that can draw them back to lighting a stick.

That’s where nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products come in. These are readily available and stocked at your local pharmacy.

NRT products might not imitate cigarettes, but they contain a small dose of nicotine that may be enough to alleviate your withdrawals. These come in the form of patches and gums for easy and convenient nicotine delivery.

While NRTs can be effective, they don’t work for everyone. If these haven’t done the trick for you, you may now be eligible for a nicotine prescription to use nicotine vaping products (NVPs).

Chat to a GP

As mentioned, NRT products have worked for many successful ex-smokers. But, you might have ingrained behaviours and triggers that only something that mimics a cigarette can successfully address, such as the hand-to-mouth motion and needing something to use while having a drink with friends.

That is where NVPs come in handy for helping you fight the urge to consume tobacco, as highlighted in the latest Cochrane Review (2024). 

You need a nicotine prescription before you can purchase NVPs, so you’ll need to consult with a GP to help you on your smoking cessation journey.

And, if your GP deems it necessary, they can write you a nicotine prescription for NVPs.

You can chat with your usual GP more about this.

Visit Your Local Pharmacy

Once you have your nicotine prescription, you can pop down to your local pharmacy. Over 2,200 pharmacies across Australia hold these products in-store, but any pharmacy can order these in for you if they don’t currently stock them.

Both your pharmacist and GP can advise you on how best to use the product, such as the initial setup, and the number of puffs to take when you feel withdrawals.

Smokefree Clinic – Your Partner in Quitting Smoking

At Smokefree Clinic, we are dedicated to helping you achieve a healthier, smoke-free future.  To enquire about getting a nicotine prescription, click here for more information on Smokefree’s telehealth consultations, or speak to your GP.

Make the Smart Choice Today

When researching how to get nicotine vape juice in Australia, focus on what you want to achieve from the product rather than the product itself.

We understand you’re looking for a legal way to access vapes amidst the recent ban, and we’re here to assist you.

Smokefree Clinic gives you access to many medically reviewed and trustworthy resources that can inform and aid you in your path to wellness, so have a look around!

If you’re ready to get started, Smokefree can connect you to Australian healthcare professionals who excel in helping patients quit smoking for good.

Resources and links:

• https://www.tga.gov.au/products/unapproved-therapeutic-goods/vaping-hub/reforms-regulation-vapes
• https://www.bbc.com/news/health-65614078
• https://www.athra.org.au/vaping/the-law/
• https://www.tga.gov.au/products/unapproved-therapeutic-goods/vaping-hub/reforms-regulation-vapes
• https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10985973/How-favourite-Aussie-vape-Video-inside-HQD-factory-Shenzhen-China.html
• https://lungfoundation.com.au/lung-health/protecting-your-lungs/e-cigarettes-and-vaping/
• https://www.athra.org.au/vaping/the-law/
• https://www.racgp.org.au/getattachment/c07241b0-9dc1-41bd-b25b-764389a675c9/Pharmacotherapy-for-smoking-cessation.aspx#:~:text=NRT%20is%20also%20licensed%20for,willing%20to%20stop%20smoking%20abruptly.&text=NRT%20is%20effective%20and%20can,%2C%207)%20compared%20with%20placebo.
• https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD010216.pub8/full