Key takeaways
- March 2024: Ban of non-prescribed NVPs started in Queensland
- Low quality NVPs sold outside pharmacies now illegal
- Legal NVPs available from 2,200 pharmacies nationwide
- Prescription required for buying pharmacy NVPs
- New NVP regulations focus on smoking cessation
If you live in Queensland, you are probably aware of the local government taking strong action to stop non-therapeutic nicotine vaping products (NVPs) being sold by criminal groups almost everywhere.
But, remember that not all vapes are the same, and not all of them are banned in Queensland.
To find out more about which vapes are allowed and which ones aren’t, keep reading below.
An Expanding, Illegal Vape Market
Let’s take a quick look back at the history of vaping in Australia so we can get a better understanding of how it all began and how it’s grown over the years.
Chat to a prescriber
Bulk-billed phone consultations
TGA-authorised clinicians
Nicotine vaping scripts available
It first arrived on the scene around 2007, with only a small group of people really taking notice.
Fast forward about ten years, and it started gaining traction with the wider public, becoming a more mainstream habit.
By then, roughly 550,000 Australians had made vaping a regular part of their daily routine.
Just a few years later, that number nearly tripled, with over 1.7 million Australians now confirmed to be using vaping products.
To date, that number keeps rising by as much as 30% each year.
This happens due to the flood of cheap, profit-driven disposable vapes in convenience stores, tobacconists, and even kids’ toy shops.
The people behind importing and selling these low-quality vapes are deliberately targeting teenagers and even children as young as five.
And what’s their main focus? Maximising profits, no matter the consequences.
What Vapes are Being Banned in Queensland?
Illegal vapes sold outside pharmacies are the main focus of the new regulations in Queensland and across the country.
These dodgy products, often bought cheaply and sold at huge markups, have been found to contain harmful stuff like nickel, lead, and even saliva.
Those NVPs you get from pharmacies are made in certified facilities, tested for safety, and aren’t part of the Government’s crackdown.
When are Vapes Being Banned in Queensland?
As of 1 March 2024, if you buy any NVP without a prescription from a pharmacy, it’s considered illegal.
While this might be a big headache for the criminal groups who have been profiting off kids, teenagers, and non-smokers, it’s actually fantastic news for you.
If you’re a smoker determined to quit or someone using illegal NVPs trying to break the habit, you now have reliable products available at pharmacies all over Queensland.
Where Do I Buy Vapes in Queensland?
If you’re a motivated smoker or former illegal NVP user looking to use NVPs to quit, you now have access to medically supported and responsible products from pharmacies.
Here’s how to go about it.
Go Through First-Line Solutions First
You need a nicotine prescription before you can purchase NVPs. As a second-line solution, one requirement is that you’ve already tried and failed to quit smoking with a first-line treatment, such as NRT products.
NRT products (like patches and gums) are the most trusted quitting option available for motivated smokers. They might not imitate cigarettes, but they contain a small dose of nicotine that may be enough to alleviate your withdrawals.
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.
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.
If your GP deems it necessary, they can write you a nicotine prescription for NVPs.
You can chat to your usual GP about this, or book a phone chat with an authorised prescriber of nicotine.
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.
The Impact of Regulatory Changes to Vapers
Motivated smokers and illegal vape users have nothing to worry about with the new vaping regulations – they can still access responsible NVPs from pharmacies, and all GPs are now eligible to prescribe NVPs.
The regulatory changes will only impact criminal importers and sellers of illegal vapes, taking these dangerous products off the shelves and out of reach of children, teens, and non-smokers.
The bottom line is, responsible NVPs are not only readily available to those who need it, but are becoming far more accepted and widespread.
Adapting to the New Vaping Landscape
People who need pharmacy NVPs now have peace of mind that the products they’re purchasing are medically supported, responsibly made, and are thoroughly tested to ensure they have a trusted tool to help them move away from cigarettes or illegal vapes for good.
For illegal NVP users, it’s also a good thing – you can easily adapt to the new vaping landscape by going through a smoking cessation programme and NRT. If your GP finds NRTs to not work for you, they can prescribe NVPs you can buy from pharmacies.
Remember that NVPs are only second-line solutions – if a first-line treatment such as NRT (patches and gums) hasn’t quite done the trick, your GP may find pharmacy NVPs a suitable intervention.
Smokefree Clinic – Your Partner in Quitting Smoking
Now that we’ve answered ‘are vapes getting banned in Queensland,’ it’s time to get you on the right path away from cigarettes and illegal vapes.
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, including via the use of pharmacy NVPs.
Click here to book in with a doctor today.
Link Reference
- https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/illicit-use-of-drugs/national-drug-strategy-household-survey-2019/contents/summary
- https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/professional/vaping-numbers-surge-despite-crackdown
- https://www.kidspot.com.au/news/melbourne-kids-shop-caught-allegedly-selling-tobacco-products-amongst-toys/news-story/f3b6cec7ac2b3da48c9db66cf9e2feb5
- https://www.bbc.com/news/health-65614078
- https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2023/08/paddy-gower-on-vaping-shocking-facts-uncovered-about-the-known-and-unknown-health-risks-of-e-liquids.html