Read This Before Buying a Vape Pen

Vape pens are everywhere these days. You’ll spot them in local shops, supermarkets, and even places you wouldn’t expect, like toy stores. 

With how accessible they are, it’s tempting to think of them as a convenient alternative to cigarettes. 

And to be fair, it does make sense. They’re easy to use, come in flavours that taste and smell nice, and seem like a friendlier option.

But before you jump in, be aware that some of these vape pens, especially the cheap ones, could contain harmful substances. 

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The brands that advertise themselves as a great cigarette alternative might not be as safe as they claim.

If you’re planning to swap cigarettes for a vape pen, you could be making things worse without even realising it.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with considering a vape pen to help you quit smoking. 

Just make sure you know what you’re getting into—understand what a vape pen is, its purpose, and how to choose one that’s right for you.

It’ll help keep you safe and on the right path for your smoke-free journey.

Differentiating Legal and Illegal Vape Pens

Where you buy your vape pen makes all the difference between it being helpful or harmful. 

There are nicotine vaping products (NVPs) that are made legally, following strict quality standards, and you can find these in local pharmacies. 

But then there are the questionable vape pens that are sold illegally, and you’ll see these pretty much everywhere else.

The ones you spot in convenience stores and tobacconists are often brought in under the radar by criminal groups—the same people behind illicit tobacco and drugs. 

Clearly, their priority is making maximum profit, not ensuring your safety while you’re trying to quit smoking.

Why You Shouldn’t Use Illegal Dangerous Vapes

Whether you’ve been smoking for years or have never touched a cigarette but feel tempted to try illegal vapes, your reasoning might be that they’re cheap—maybe even cheaper than some everyday essentials. 

But keep in mind, those illicit vapes and the brief satisfaction they might offer can come at the cost of your health and all the progress you’ve made towards quitting smoking and overcoming nicotine addiction for good.

Below are a few important reasons to avoid illegal vapes.

Not Insured

The vapes you can easily get outside of pharmacies are illegal and come with no product liability insurance. You’re completely on your own if you have a bad reaction or end up in hospital. 

Those shady manufacturers just couldn’t care less about your safety.

For anything you’re putting into your body, insurance is crucial—especially when you’re inhaling something up to 200 times a day. 

Buying a legal, insured vape gives you peace of mind, knowing that you’re protected and covered if anything goes wrong.

Unknown Manufacturing and Hygiene

Watch out for vape pens that claim to be trusted brands but are sold in under-the-radar shops at suspiciously low prices—they’re probably fake and illegally distributed. 

The tricky thing is, these knock-offs look almost identical to the real deal, so it’s hard to spot the difference.

But if you dig a bit deeper, you’ll find that these counterfeit vape pens, pretending to be from reputable brands, are actually made without proper medical-standard equipment and facilities.

Some have even been found to contain traces of human saliva.

Dangerous and Unidentified Chemicals

When you smoke cigarettes, you know they’re packed with harmful chemicals, even if it’s not healthy. 

But with illegal vapes, often imported from overseas, you’re taking an even bigger risk because you’re inhaling unknown or unregulated substances in the e-liquids and vapour.

The irony is that many smokers who want to quit—or curious non-smokers—turn to vapes thinking they’re a safer option than tobacco. 

But, you need to know that several lab tests have shown that illegal vapes often contain dangerous levels of heavy metals like nickel and lead. 

Every puff you take could be exposing your lungs to these toxic substances, raising the risk of cancer and other serious health issues. 

In the end, using illegal vapes could do more harm to your health, drain your wallet, and worry those who care about you.

Made Solely for Profit, Not Health

As mentioned, illegal NVPs you buy from convenience stores are made only for profit. Medical facilities and safety tests are expensive, so these aren’t used at all. The result is a highly dangerous product selling wholesale for as little as $1, and passed onto you at a 3,400% mark-up.

Fortunately, the alternative is much more trustworthy and supported by many GPs and health providers throughout Australia – prescription NVPs available from your local pharmacy.

Why Use Legal/Pharmacy Vapes for Quitting Smoking?

NVPs you can buy from pharmacies only have one thing in common with illegal vapes: they look similar. But, that’s where the similarities end.

Made With Your Health in Mind

Unlike the potentially dangerous illegal products mentioned above, pharmacy vapes are responsibly manufactured purely with your health in mind. They are:

• Specifically designed for smoking cessation;
• Rigorously tested for inhalation safety by expert toxicologists;
• Covered by locally-issued product liability insurance; and
• Are trusted by doctors and pharmacists as a tool to help you quit smoking.

Medically Insured and Supplied

Physical pharmacies will not carry products that do not comply with GMP– and ISO standards in manufacturing medicines, and the pharmaceutical wholesalers (the ones that supply all medicines to every pharmacy) do not supply uninsured medicines. NVPs sold in physical pharmacies comply with these requirements. 

All vapes available inside physical pharmacies are manufactured in facilities that comply with high medical requirements. Furthermore, medical experts and toxicologists have identified every chemical in the eliquid and the vapour the device produces.

Locally Insured

Just like all other medicines that you trust for your health, NVPs available in your local pharmacy are covered by locally-issued product liability insurance. This ensures that you’re covered for any adverse events, or even a fault with the product itself.

Simplicity and Ease of Use

Pharmacy NVPs are designed to be user-friendly, making them an excellent option for individuals who prefer a hassle-free experience. They’re ready to use out of the box, meaning there’s no learning curve or confusion, so you can get started on your journey away from smoking with ease.

Portability and Convenience

Pharmacy NVPs are very small and portable, making them easy to carry around in your pocket or bag. Moreover, the closed system of vape pens ensures there are no buttons, settings, or manual filling of liquid required – you simply give it a puff whenever you feel any cravings or withdrawal symptoms, especially helpful when you’re in a smoking environment and start feeling the pressure.

Consistency and Performance

Pharmacy NVPs are specifically designed to provide consistent and reliable performance. The pre-filled cartridges are tested medically and functionally to perform well, ensuring that you receive a dependable and consistent experience throughout the life of the cartridge.

Each pharmacy NVP cartridge uses a specific formulation of nicotine-containing liquid, ensuring that you’re receiving an accurate and suitable ongoing dosage to alleviate your withdrawal symptoms and stay smokefree.

If you’re interested in learning how does a vape work, we highly recommend reading more about pharmacy vapes here.

How Can I Get Pharmacy Vaping Products?

Go Through First-Line Solutions First

NVPs aren’t issued immediately in smoking cessation programmes. A motivated smoker should first go through NRT and use the safest quit-smoking aids available from pharmacies. 

NRT products are lozenges, gums, patches, and inhalers that introduce a small dose of nicotine to alleviate your withdrawal symptoms. While these have worked well for many motivated smokers, some might have ingrained triggers that require a mimic of cigarettes to address.

In fact, the latest Cochrane Review found high-certainty evidence that NVPs are more effective than NRT in helping people stop smoking.

Chat to a GP

A GP is the most qualified professional that can oversee your quit smoking journey. They can create a custom-made smoking cessation programme with your previous nicotine intake in mind. 

They can also assess if your initial venture with NRT products isn’t helping you stop smoking and determine if a pharmacy NVP prescription suits you.

Visit a 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 to use a vape pen made for smoking cessation properly, such as the initial setup, and the number of puffs to take when you feel withdrawals.

Summary

Vaping can be a useful tool for smoking, but only if you’re using medical devices from a physical pharmacy. Anyone who plans to vape should only do so to stop smoking and not for recreational purposes, so buy your NVPs only from pharmacies to keep yourself safe and smokefree.

We know you’re reading this because you want to know which vape pen is the best for your needs. We can help you much more beyond supplying this useful information.

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.

Link Reference:

• 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
• https://www.bbc.com/news/health-65614078
• https://www.tga.gov.au/good-manufacturing-practice-overview
• https://www.iso.org/iso-13485-medical-devices.html
• https://www.cochrane.org/news/latest-cochrane-review-finds-high-certainty-evidence-nicotine-e-cigarettes-are-more-effective