We all know the dangers of smoking – and it’s truly pleasing to see that Australian smokers are kicking the habit in spades compared to the previous decade.
Although quitting smoking is never ‘easy’, with the increasing costs to smoke and the availability of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and other stop-smoking tools, it’s easier to take the first steps toward your quit journey.
One other significant reason for smoking’s decline are nicotine vaping products (NVPs). Are these similar to smoking? More importantly, is it better or worse than smoking?
Let’s answer these questions with the current available data and research in today’s post.
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Smoking vs Vaping: Smoke vs. Vapour
Smoking: A Known Health Hazard
Smoke is the number-one source of danger in cigarettes. Where there is smoke, there are heavy metals, carcinogens, aldehydes, and other chemicals that will endanger your body.
Yes, the smoke mentioned here goes beyond cigarettes – you’re inhaling harmful chemicals from any type of smoke from emissions, burnt leaves, and other burnt objects or items.
Vapour: Reduced Danger Levels, But Not 100% Safe
Vapour from NVPs isn’t always “95% safer” as assumed by many, but it doesn’t have the tar, carbon monoxide, and heavy metals like cadmium and lead (found in batteries) found in cigarette smoke. These chemicals can wreak all kinds of havoc on the body.
So, if you think an NVP may help you to stop smoking, make sure you buy a high-quality one from a pharmacy — it’s also the legal way to do it.
NVPs have the following parts to create vapour:
- a cartridge that contains specially formulated liquid (or eliquid)
- an aerosoliser inside the cartridge to vapourise the eliquid
- and a device that houses the battery.
More About Nicotine
Cigarettes and NVPs both contain nicotine. By itself, nicotine is a relatively harmless yet highly addictive compound. It only temporarily raises your heart rate and blood pressure. Unless you have an existing health condition related to your heart or lungs, nicotine is unlikely to cause harm.
The addictive nature of nicotine is the reason why many smokers cannot stop smoking. And because they contain nicotine, NVPs have the same potential for addiction without proper guidance on how to use it properly.
And NVPs can also be extremely dangerous if manufactured by unknown sources and are of poor quality.
What We Currently Know About Vaping
As of yet, there is limited data about the long-term effects of vaping. In the short term, most NVP users can experience dizziness and nausea and diarrhoea and gut inflammation. However, the long-term effects of NVP use has yet to be known as the technology has only been in existence for 15 years.
However, one thing’s for sure: non-therapeutic NVPs sold outside of pharmacies have the potential to cause many health problems.
Legal vs Illicit Vaping
As mentioned earlier, the 1 March 2024 guideline update has banned the importation and sale of non-therapeutic NVPs and has limited sales to pharmacies only. Importing NVPs from overseas now requires a special licence.
This ban is good news for everyone – it means that the criminal parties importing these illicit NVPs and targeting the most vulnerable in Australia for profit won’t be able to peddle low-quality NVPs to be sold to children as young as five years old and teenagers.
Illicit NVPs
Illicit NVPs not only support criminal gangs, worst of all, they’re made with extremely low to no standards at all
High amounts of nickel and lead and even foreign saliva has been found in these vapes. They also contain very high nicotine content (as high as 357 mg in a single vape), even when they’re labelled as ‘nicotine-free’.
Parties who sell these have no concern with public health – only their personal wealth. These are also the vapes easily purchased by young children, teens, and non-smokers.
These illegal products are the reason why in just the last few years, the country’s number of vapers has grown from half a million to over 1.7 million, rising 30% year on year.
Pharmacy NVPs
Let’s talk about pharmacy-sold NVPs
Unlike the profit-focused illegal vapes, these are designed solely for smoking cessation. Pharmacy NVP suppliers in Australia manufacture their devices in compliance with medical device standards and develop their eliquids using pharmaceutical drug development protocols..
These products are rigorously tested for inhalation safety by toxicologists, have fully characterised ingredients, and are also locally insured (just like all other medicines).
The regulations ensure that any NVP sold through a local pharmacy is meant for smoking cessation, not recreation.
Cost Comparison: Vaping vs Smoking
It’s no surprise that smoking is much more expensive in Australia today. Fancy a pack of 20 sticks? You’ll need to cough up $57.50 for one.
You can easily see how the costs pile up as you need more than just a pack of ciggies a day. Factor in that this price will cost higher by 15% in 2026, it’s wiser to just stop smoking for good.
Now, how about using NVPs from a pharmacy. Will they dent your wallet just as much?
Initially, the cost of a pharmacy NVP is just a bit higher than a 20-pack of cigarettes – around $85.50 to be exact for a starter kit.
But the starter vape kit you would be buying is intended to help you stop smoking for the rest of the week – unlike the $57.50 20s pack that just lasts throughout the day and continues to do damage to your health.
Now that you’ve bought the device, you’ll only need to buy cartridges as needed based on your GP’s prescription. You’ll probably spend about just $40-60 for 4 to 6 cartridges a week.
If you do the maths, you’re saving more than 90% of what you usually spend on cigarettes – with the added benefit that you’re on your way to quitting cigarettes and nicotine entirely.
Smoking vs Vaping: Can You Vape Where You Can’t Smoke?
In most places in Australia all non-smoking environments and public areas should be aerosol and smokefree – that means you can only use NVPs from pharmacies in designated smoking zones in commercial establishments, schools, and other areas.
Using your NVPs in non-smoking areas may earn you the same level of fine assmoking a cigarette in the same restricted zones.
While you can vape where you can’t smoke, such as indoors in your own room, make sure you’re the only one in the room – non-smokers should not be unwillingly exposed to NVPs or vaping.
Summary
Is smoking much more dangerous than vaping? Is vaping worse? Undeniably, smoking is far worse than vaping, but vaping can be dangerous if you’re using the non-therapeutic vapes already outlawed in Australia.The best way to use NVPs for smoking cessation is to buy them from a pharmacy by getting a prescription from a GP that understands smoking cessation.
And if you need help in quitting smoking with further information or with a telehealth consultation, we can help.
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 friendly Australian healthcare professionals who excel in helping patients quit smoking for good, including via the use of pharmacy NVPs.