Vaping Use Nearly Triples in Australia

A woman smokes a vaping device in Manchester, England, on May 30, 2023. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Vaping use in Australia almost tripled since 2019, with the usage rising five-fold among young people, according to a national drug strategy household survey of 21,000 people.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) report (pdf) showed vaping and e-cigarette use soared from 2.5 percent in 2019 to 7 percent in 2022 and 2023.

The survey also revealed that vaping rose nearly four-fold among citizens aged between 18 and 24 from 5.3 to 21 percent. Among those aged 14 to 17, vaping use surged by greater than five-fold from 1.8 to 9.7 percent.

Conversely, just 1.6 percent of individuals between 60 and 69 said they were using vapes at the time of the survey in 2022 to 2023, while only 0.4 percent of people aged over 70 were using vapes.

These Australians were using vapes daily, weekly, monthly, or less than monthly at the time of being interviewed.

In addition, the report found one in five individuals over 14, or 19.8 percent had used an e-cigarette at least once in their lifetime, compared to 11.3 percent in 2019.

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Of those who had used e-cigarettes at some point in their lifetime, more than half, 54 percent, admitted at least one had contained nicotine.

Among those who were using e-cigarettes at the time of being surveyed, 73 percent said at least one of them had nicotine within it.

Meanwhile, 87 percent of those who had obtained e-cigarettes containing nicotine said they had done so without a prescription.

The institute noted at the time of conducting the survey, it was “illegal” to gain e-cigarettes including nicotine without a prescription.

Commenting on the survey, AIHW spokesperson Gabrielle Phillips said, “In 2022–2023, 19.8 percent of people aged 14 and over in Australia reported having used an e-cigarette at least once in their lifetime, up from 11.3 percent in 2019. Current use of e-cigarettes also increased, from 2.5 percent in 2019 to 7.0 percent in 2022–2023.

“‘Vaping was most common among people aged 18–‍24, with current use increasing substantially between 2019 (5.3 percent) and 2022–‍2023 (21 percent). Half of people aged 18­–24 reported having tried an e-cigarette in their lifetime.”

Alcohol the Most Common Drug in Australia

Alcohol is the most common drug in Australia, according to AIHW findings. Around three in four people, or 77 percent, admitted they had drunk alcohol at some point within the past year.

In addition, one in three people consumed alcohol in a way that put their health at risk at the time of the survey in 2022 and 2023.

This figure was similar to that reported in 2019, where 32 percent of individuals had drank in a risky manner.

“Despite updated guidelines to reduce alcohol-related harms, the proportion of people in Australia who drink alcohol at risky levels has not changed since 2019,” Ms. Phillips said.

Consuming more than 10 standard drinks on average or more than four on a day at least once per month was considered drinking at risky levels.

The report noted while alcohol and other drug use has historically been higher among men than women, “this gap is closing,” especially among Australians aged between 18 and 24.

“Use of alcohol, e-cigarettes, and illicit drugs, including cocaine, have all risen among young women,” the report stated.

One in four, or 28 percent of women between 14 and 49 consumed alcohol while they were pregnant. However, this figure fell from 42 percent back in 2013.

Tobacco Smoking Drops

The national tobacco smoking rate fell from 11 percent to 8.3 percent between 2019 and 2022 and 2023. The institute noted this means about 1.8 million people were smoking daily in 2022 to 2023, down from 2.3 million in 2019.

Daily smoking fell to 5.9 percent among those aged between 18 and 2024, while 7.3 percent of 25 to 29-year-olds and 8.8 percent of 30 to 39-year-olds smoked daily.

Among the older generation in their 60’s, about 10.4 percent of people smoke daily.

“Around 1 in 4 people who smoked daily were aged 60 or older in 2022–2023, compared to around 1 in 7 in 2010,” the report noted.

Vaping Imports Banned in Australia

As of January 2024, importing disposable single-use vapes into Australia is illegal. However, doctors and nurse practitioners can still prescribe therapeutic vaping products to assist individuals to quit smoking and vaping.

Health Minister Mark Butler said this is only the first chapter of the government’s vaping reforms, and supply will “gradually dry up” during 2024.

“Vaping is creating a whole new generation of nicotine dependency in our community, especially amongst young Australians. The Albanese Government is taking world-leading action to stamp out vaping—to protect a new generation of kids from getting hooked on nicotine,” Mr. Butler said.

“If you vape, this New Year make it your resolution to quit.”

However, Coalition MPs including Warren Entsch raised concerns children are still getting their hands on vapes in Australia via a black market.

He labelled the situation a “disgrace” and said, “We’ve got to get this stuff out of the hands of the kids.”

“Everywhere you go you see them. The problem with these places is they sell for cash—in fact, some of them have got ATMs … so these people are selling them at ridiculously low prices, so everybody knows who they are,” Mr. Entsch said.