In a significant public health development, a study led by Cancer Council Australia highlights a reduction in vaping rates among school-age children, a year after the government enforced a ban on disposable vapes. The latest findings from the nationwide study, Generation Vape, reveal that vaping among 14 to 17-year-olds has decreased from 17.5% at the beginning of 2023 to 14.6% by April of the same year. Additionally, the study indicated that vaping rates for individuals over 15 dropped by over a third.
Australian Health Minister Mark Butler noted that the reduction in vaping among young Australians signifies a positive turning point, highlighting that more than 10 million illegal vapes have been confiscated in the past year. "Our education and prevention campaigns, along with efforts to deter youth from vaping and smoking, are creating a tangible impact," he stated.
The law implemented in July 2024 prohibits the production, importation, advertisement, and supply of single-use vapes. Meanwhile, nicotine vapes can now only be acquired through prescriptions at pharmacies. Despite these measures, a robust black market for nicotine vapes persists in the country.
The UK also introduced similar bans on disposable vapes earlier this year. Though vapes are often regarded as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes due to the absence of harmful tobacco, health experts caution that they are not without risks and long-term effects remain uncharted.
This shift in Australia’s approach stems from growing concerns regarding the surge in adolescent vaping, with Minister Butler asserting that these products are fostering a new generation of nicotine dependency. The Generation Vape study reported that a staggering 85.4% of the surveyed young individuals, approximately 3,000 participants aged between 14 to 17, had never vaped, and interest in vaping has lessened, with less than a third showing curiosity.
Changing attitudes towards vaping among adolescents are also apparent, as indicated by interviews in the study where both current and former vapers expressed feelings of shame and embarrassment associated with their vaping habits. However, access to vapes remains a challenge, with tobacconists and vape shops still being prominent sources of vape sales.
Commenting on the issue, Mr. Butler expressed optimism that Australia has surpassed the height of the vaping epidemic. "I know this is a tough battle and there’s much more to do, not just about vaping but also concerning illicit tobacco," he explained. Tobacco continues to be the leading cause of preventable deaths in Australia, claiming over 24,000 lives annually.
