Four Corners investigates the explosion in vaping amongst teenagers and the booming black market which is thriving in Australia due to a failure to police the rules.

“It was very clearly marketed to young people, people who had never smoked. You had ads in teen magazines. You had ads on children's cartoon websites. It's no wonder this product appealed to young people so much. It was designed for them. It was marketed to them, and it was available to them.” Public health academic

it is becoming clear that the risks regarding vaping as a gateway drug previously highlighted by health bodies are being realised with a significant public health issue of nicotine addicted youth - despite the protestations of pro vaping bodies and big tobacco lobbied politicians pushing individual rights and health outcomes. LHPC

The Four Corners presentation by reporter Grace Tobin is available in full on abc.net.au

Click here to link to the ABC Four Corners presentation.

Dana Daniel reports in the Age 27/06/27 State Health Ministers push for the Federal Government to crack down on on illicit vaping imports.

The previous attempt to ban nicotine imports - watered down by Coalition Backbenchers and Senators with interesting views in the last federal government, means vaping products remain largely unregulated despite ongoing evidence of undeclared chemicals and nicotine levels and a growing public health issue.

With the rise of vaping amongst youth, previously raised concerns regarding vaping as a gateway product to smoking and long term addiction to Nicotine based (declared or otherwise) products - are perhaps being realised.

“NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard and Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley – have been pushing since last year for a “national approach” to vaping, including strong enforcement by the Australian Border Force.”

Click here for full age article

National advice on the use of electronic cigarettes based on the most up-to-date scientific evidence has been delivered by Australia’s health and medical research agency, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

The 2022 NHMRC CEO Statement on E-Cigarettes is the most current advice on health impacts of e-cigarettes and is based on in-depth evidence reviews and an extensive toxicology report.

The advice states clearly that the vapour from e-cigarette devices can be harmful and there is limited evidence that e-cigarettes are effective at helping smokers quit

Based on the latest scientific evidence, the advice states:

• All e-cigarette users are exposed to chemicals and toxins that have the potential to cause harm. In addition to nicotine, more than 200 chemicals have been associated with e-liquids.

• E-cigarettes containing nicotine are addictive and people who have never smoked are more likely to take up tobacco smoking.

• E-cigarettes are not proven safe and effective smoking cessation aids. There are other proven safe and effective options to help smokers quit.

Click here to link to NHRMC statement (website)

2022 CEO Statement on Electronic Cigarettes: Plain English Summary

Patrice Marques, Laura Piqueras & Maria-Jesus Sanz - review the studies re impacts of e-cigarettes both in the short and longer term.

“Interestingly, there is a strong difference of opinion on e-cigarettes between countries. Whereas countries such as Brazil, Uruguay and India have banned the sale of e-cigarettes, others such as the United Kingdom support this device to quit smoking.”"

In regard to COVID-19 pandemic, the actual literature suggests that nicotine vaping may display adverse outcomes. Therefore, follow up studies are necessary to clarify the impact of e-cigarette consumption on human health in SARS-CoV-2 infection.

In conclusion, e-cigarettes could be a good alternative to conventional tobacco cigarettes, with less side effects; however, a stricter sale control, a proper regulation of the industry including flavour restriction, as well as further toxicological studies, including their chronic effects, are warranted.”

Cick here for the BMC published extract

The SMH 25/1 leads with the headline to introduce a recent Australian National University report on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults.

The January 2021 report “Tobacco smoking and mortality among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults in Australia” published in the International Journal of Epidemiology highlights the differences in smoking related morbidity between both generations within the study group and differences compared to non indigenous populations, summarising that “Smoking causes half of deaths in older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults; Indigenous tobacco control must receive increased priority”.

The paper’s co-author Associate Professor Raymond Lovett, a Ngiyampaa (Wongaibon) man, said while the smoking rate in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults was higher than the general population - 40 per cent compared to 14 per cent - the rate of smoking had decreased by 11 per cent over the past 10 to 15 years which is “fantastic news”.

Many of this studies’ authors also contributed to a 2017 report - “Deadly progress: changes in Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adult daily smoking, 2004–2015” .

The Guardian reported in 2016 reductions in indigenous smoking rates whilst Tobacco in Australia reports current numbers (January 20)

Following their 23rd September interim paper, The TGA published their determination on the 21st December.

From 1 October 2021, the law for you to import nicotine e-cigarettes and liquid nicotine will align with the law for you to buy such products domestically. The gap between Commonwealth and state and territory law has been closed so that you will need a doctor’s prescription (script) to legally access nicotine e-cigarettes and nicotine liquids in Australia.

Click Here for the TGA Decision

The decision was also reported by The ABC (Click here).

There is still work to do in terms of formal review of appropriate products for prescription - and discussion regarding use of such products in terms of Smoking Cessation strategies given trials/review to date.

Using e-cigarettes triples the chance of a non-smoker taking up cigarettes and there is "insufficient" evidence that they help smokers quit, according to a new report submitted to the Government and reported in the ANU Portal, Medical Express and mainstream press (AFR) et al.

Research led by The Australian National University (ANU) reviewed the worldwide evidence on e-cigarettes and smoking behaviour, relevant to the Australian context.

The report has been widely reported in the press with perhaps more rigorous discussion given recent TGA Interim decision to allow E-Cigarettes prescription in 2021.

Cick here for ANU published extract

Click here to download the published paper

Following lobbying from 20+ backbenchers - legislation to prevent unregulated import of Nicotine based vaping products was delayed from proposed July 2020 to 2021

The Guardian’s Paul Karp discusses the lobbying that led to the decision - Click here for more details