FAQs – Quit Smoking & How Vaping Can Help

Globally, one in ten deaths are related to smoking and in Australia, over 20,000 people die each due to smoking. Over 40% of lung diseases in Australia are caused by smoking, as well as over 20% of cancers, and over 10% of heart disease. If you’re a smoker, you have roughly a 50/50 chance of dying from a smoking related cause.

Around 1 in 8 Australians smoke daily, while 6 in 10 have never smoked. Smoking rates in Australia have steadily declined over the past 30 years, due to better public health awareness, smoking becoming less socially acceptable, and the price of cigarettes increasing. Unfortunately though, this decline in smoking rates has stalled, hovering between 10-15% of adults.

While smoking remains legal for Australian adults, smoking causes more deaths than alcohol and all illegal drugs combined.

If you’re a smoker, the best age to quit is whatever age you are now! Quitting before the age of 40 reduces the long term risk of death associated with continued smoking by 90%. Quitting before the age of 30 reduces this risk by 90%. Even if you’ve smoked for over 40 years, if you quit smoking at the age of 65, your life expectancy increases by 2-4 years.

No! The good news is if you quit smoking, much of the damage done can be reversed. Recent studies have shown that even for heavy smokers who have smoked for 40 years, undamaged cells in the lungs can slowly repair damaged cells over time. The longer you stay off the cigarettes, the more the body can repair. After one year, your risk of heart disease falls to 50% that of a smoker. After five years, your risk of stroke is the same as someone who has never smoked. Over time, your risk of developing cancer continues to decline.

Nicotine is an extremely addictive drug, meaning quitting smoking is much harder than most never-smokers can understand. Some smokers are able to quit cold-turkey by sheer willpower at their first attempt, but unfortunately for most smokers this isn’t possible, and more support is required. The majority of smokers have attempted to quit multiple times, and around 30% of smokers have made a serious quit attempt within the past 12 months. For the majority of smokers, the first quit attempt will be unsuccessful, with most smokers requiring multiple attempts before quitting for good.

The average cigarette contains approximately 10mg of nicotine. However when you smoke, much of the nicotine is burnt off and not inhaled. Typically most smokers will absorb 1-1.5mg of nicotine per cigarette, meaning a pack a day smoker typically absorbs 20-30mg per day. If you decide to quit via nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) you should try to limit your nicotine intake to equal or less than your normal intake of nicotine that you would have received via smoking. Similarly, if you are prescribed a nicotine pod device that contains 40mg per pod, try to make the pod last 2 days.

Around 25% of smokers have only a few cigarettes a day, or smoke every now and then. The fewer cigarettes you smoke the better, but even light smoking or ‘social smoking’ significantly increases your risk of heart disease, cancer, eye disease, and many other serious health conditions.

Various studies globally have compared how effective different quit methods are, with varying results. 

The most common way of quitting is ‘cold-turkey’ but it is also the most difficult. This is a very low risk approach though, and is probably the best way to try first, particularly if you’re only a social or light smoker.

For smokers who are unable to quit cold-turkey, research has consistently shown that nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) in the form of gums or patches increases the likelihood of success, and is very safe, so is a good next step.

If NRT and cold-turkey are unsuccessful, prescription options such as Varenicline (Champix), Bupropion (Zyban) or e-cigarettes/vaped nicotine have all been shown in some studies to be more effective than NRT.  However all these prescription options come with an increased chances of side effects, or unknown long term risks.

Ultimately, the best way to quit smoking is the way that works for you.

Vaping means inhaling vapour from an electronic device called a vape or e-cigarette. These devices heat a liquid that usually contains nicotine, flavourings and other chemicals.

Most vapes contain nicotine, even when the label says they don’t. The liquid inside is usually a mix of chemicals such as propylene glycol, glycerine and flavourings. When heated, these liquids turn into an aerosol that can contain toxins known to harm the lungs and heart. Illegal vapes can sometimes contain nicotine even when labelled nicotine-free. Pharmacy-supplied therapeutic vapes must meet Australian standards. Liquids commonly include propylene glycol, glycerine and flavourings.

Nicotine is a stimulant drug that triggers a quick release of dopamine, the chemical linked to pleasure and focus. The effect fades fast, leading to cravings. Regular exposure makes the brain depend on nicotine, which makes quitting harder without support.

People can vape for a number of reasons, but the majority of those who vape do so as a safer replacement to smoking tobacco cigarettes. This is the original reason that vaping systems were designed, with vape devices delivering an amount of nicotine to the user without also delivering the large number of harmful chemicals that are inhaled when someone smokes a cigarette.

Vapes can only be sold through pharmacies under new Australian laws. From July 2024, it became illegal for regular stores to sell any vape products. Adults over 18 can buy nicotine vapes after speaking with a pharmacist to acquire a vape prescription. A prescription from a medical practitioner will be required for nicotine concentrations greater than 20 mg/mL.

Since 1 July 2024, vapes can only be sold in pharmacies for quitting smoking or managing nicotine dependence. Since 1 October 2024, adults 18+ can buy therapeutic vapes with nicotine ≤20 mg/mL from participating pharmacies after speaking with a pharmacist. Vapes with nicotine concentrations greater than 20 mg/mL require a prescription from a medical practitioner.

In New South Wales (NSW), it’s illegal for anyone to sell or supply vapes that contain nicotine without proper authorisation. Pharmacies are the only legal retailers, and nicotine vapes can only be accessed after speaking with a pharmacist or with a doctor’s prescription. Selling vapes through convenience stores, online shops or social media is against the law. See our Vaping Law Page for more information.

In Queensland, vapes are only available through pharmacies. Adults 18+ can access therapeutic vapes ≤20 mg/mL after a pharmacist consultation. People under 18 need a prescription. Selling vapes in other stores or online is illegal and can attract significant penalties. See our Vaping Law Page for more information.

A prescription for nicotine can be written by any Australian doctor. The doctor needs to either be an Authorised Prescriber (AP) of nicotine, or fill out a Special Access Scheme B (SAS B) form. One submitted to the TGA, the TGA will likely approve a nicotine prescription within a few days. All Quit Clinics doctors are Authorised prescribers of nicotine, so a SAS B form isn’t needed, meaning a prescription can be written immediately. Eligible patients are typically reviewed and a prescription issued within 24 hours.

Once you have a prescription you can purchase nicotine from an Australian pharmacy, the personal importation routes (purchasing from international markets) is now closed. You are able to bring limited amount of products and devices with you alongside a script if you are returning to Australia from abroad. You can legally purchase vaping devices, and non-nicotine containing vaping liquid at vape shops currently, although from March 1, 2025 all non-nicotine containing vaping liquid and vaping products will have to be purchased through Australian pharmacies.

Yes, but only in carry-on luggage. Vape devices and batteries can’t go in checked bags due to fire risk. You can take an empty vape through airport security, but using or charging it on the plane is not permitted. Liquids must follow airline limits for volume and packaging. See our Vaping Travel Page for more information.

You can bring a vape device into Australia, in limited quantities, for personal therapeutic use only. Current traveller limits are up to 2 devices, 20 cartridges/pods and 200 mL of liquid. Products that don’t meet rules may be seized. Check the TGA and Australian Border Force advice before you travel. See our Vaping Travel Page for more information.

A landmark review in 2015 by Public Health England concluded that vaping was at least 95% safer than smoking cigarettes. This figure was debated in the recent Tobacco Harm Reduction Senate Inquiry. At the senate inquiry almost all expert witnesses, even strong critics of vaping agreed that vaping was significantly safer than smoking.

Vaping is regarded as much safer than smoking largely because the 1000s of potentially toxic chemicals in cigarette smoke are either not present in vaping, or are present at significantly lower levels.

While vaping is significantly safer than smoking, it is not risk free. Vaping is a relatively new technology, so we’re still learning what the long term risks may be. Vaping shouldn’t be seen as a long-term solution and is only suitable for smokers who have first tried other methods to quit (like cold-turkey and nicotine gum and patches).

The safest option is to quit vaping and smoking altogether. However, if you’re otherwise unable to quit smoking, vaping is often a good way to kick the habit. Over time you should aim to reduce the amount of nicotine you vape gradually. One advantage of vaping is that different strengths of nicotine are available, so you can gradually reduce your nicotine over time. A good goal is to quit smoking NOW, and then use your vape to wean your nicotine use over 12 months, aiming to quit nicotine within one year.

No. Vaping is significantly safer than smoking, so long as a quality, regulated vaping product is used.  However both vaping and smoking can harm health. Smoking causes serious disease and death for many Australians. Vaping exposes users to addictive nicotine and other chemicals, which are likely harmful to your health. The safest option is to quit all nicotine products. Talk to your GP, pharmacist, Quitline or one of Quit Clinics doctors for support.

Nicotine affects the brain and body by increasing heart rate, blood pressure and dependence. In young people, nicotine can change brain development, leading to problems with focus, mood and memory. Even small amounts can trigger addiction quickly.

Concern about the short term risks of vaping (months to a few years) stem from a number of vaping related deaths in the USA. As of January 2020, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed 60 deaths in patients with e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury (EVALI). These cases predominantly affected people who had either modified their vaping devices, or used black market modified e-liquids that contained THC, and in particular, vitamin E acetate. Vitamin E acetate is a thickening agent often used in THC vaping products, and it was found in all lung fluid samples of EVALI patients examined by the CDC. No cases have been reported of nicotine only vaping products. It is imperative that if you’re considering vaping that you purchase your products from a trusted supplier, either an Australian pharmacy, or a supplier that can show you safety data that confirms their products are free from THC and vitamin E acetate.

The cost of vaping depends on a number of factors, including the device you are using, the strength of the nicotine you use, and how much liquid you use. For smokers new to vaping, a pod device is typically recommended, as they are safer and easy to use, and closely mimic the smoking ritual. High quality pod devices cost around $40, and replacement pods cost around $10. On average a typical pack per day smoker can expect to pay $5 per day, compared to up to $50 for a pack of cigarettes. Therapeutic vapes supplied through pharmacies may be priced differently from illegal products, in many cases legal vapes are priced below illegal vapes. Ask your pharmacist for current pricing.

Nicotine concentration in pharmacy-supplied therapeutic vapes is limited to ≤20 mg/mL unless you have a prescription for higher strengths. Total nicotine delivered depends on liquid strength, device design and how you vape. Illegal products can vary and may be mislabelled.

When converting cigarette nicotine strength to vaping strength, it is not as simple as 12mg in a cigarette equaling 12mg in a vape. Due to the differences in the combustion of a cigarette and the heating of nicotine in a vape, the efficiency of nicotine delivery to the bloodstream varies.

Because of the numerous variables with e-cigarettes—such as the nicotine liquid, heating coil, and personal usage of the device—it is more practical to provide general advice rather than strict rules. Nicotine salts (a type of nicotine liquid) provide a blood nicotine spike more similar to that of a cigarette than freebase nicotine, which results in a flatter blood nicotine spike.

At Quit Clinics, prescribing decisions are at the complete discretion of the prescribing doctor, who must be a TGA Authorised Prescriber of Nicotine.

If a Quit Clinics doctor recommends a vaping product, they will first take into consideration your medical and smoking history, any previous experience with vaping, and most importantly the safety of the product.

Typically Quit Clinics doctors will only prescribe products that have met our safety standards. Quit Clinics doctors have the right to refuse prescribing, or offer an alternative treatment that has met these standards.

Quit Clinics does not produce any vaping products.

In Australia, medicines are assessed for safety and efficacy by the Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA) before they become approved medicines. Medicines that have been approved by the TGA can therefore be viewed as safer options than unapproved medicines. The use of unapproved medicines should be reserved for when approved treatments have failed.

Currently there are no nicotine vaping products that have been approved by the TGA, meaning that the safety and efficacy of these products has not been thoroughly assessed. An unlicensed medicine can only be prescribed via the TGA Special Access Scheme or via a prescription from an Authorised Prescriber.

To minimise the risk of harm and to promote the manufacture of high quality, safe products, Quit Clinics has set the following standards for unapproved products:

• Childproof packaging of all products.
• Emissions testing data verified by Quit Clinics.
• Quality systems for production ISO 9001, 14001, 45001, and for devices 13485 Certifications and IEC electrical standards applicable such as EN60335, EN61000, EN55014.
• Pharmaceutical product data sheets, Safety data sheets, Product risk assessments, toxicology assessments, and third party certificates of analysis verified by Quit Clinics.
• A Pharmacovigilance system to monitor, record and report any adverse reactions.

No. If a Quit Clinics doctor prescribes nicotine to vape, they will prescribe a finished product/s and specify a precise concentration/s, taking into account a patient’s medical and smoking history. While some people have experience mixing the concentrated nicotine with flavours, Quit Clinics does not support this practice, due to the unnecessary additional risk it poses to patients.

Nicotine pouches are small, smokeless sachets placed between the gum and lip. They release nicotine through the oral lining rather than by inhalation. Unlike products such as snus, they do not contain tobacco leaf, but they deliver nicotine instead. See our Nicotine Pouches Guide for more information.

Nicotine pouches containing nicotine are not approved for sale in Australia unless prescribed by a doctor. They are regulated prescription only medicines that need to be imported via the Personal Importation Scheme. Buying or importing them without a prescription is illegal under the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) rules. Non-nicotine pouches may be sold, but most imported versions are found to contain nicotine even when the label says otherwise.

To use a nicotine pouch you place it between your gum and upper lip. It releases nicotine via the mouth’s lining rather than by inhalation. Most are designed for single-use and should be discarded after use. Re-using, chewing or swallowing them may increase your exposure to nicotine and other additives which is not recommended.

Most Nicotine pouches last around 30 minutes before losing flavour and strength. How long they last depends on the brand, size, and nicotine concentration. After use, the pouch should be thrown away in a bin, not flushed or swallowed.