Get the facts on vaping

New vaping campaign and hub launched

Despite reduced smoking rates over decades, in just three years the prevalence of e-cigarette use increased significantly in Victoria.

“The announcement of plans to stop the flood of imported e-cigarettes at the Australian border is a crucial first step which now must be matched by rapid and decisive action at the state level,” said Todd Harper AM, CEO of Cancer Council Victoria.

When tobacco plain packaging legislation was introduced 10 years ago, we saw a reduction in smoking rates amongst Australians with an estimated 100,000 fewer Australians smoking just three years after the drab packaging with health warnings replaced colourful packs.

Since then, the tobacco industry has diverted much of its attention to creating new products to sell to a new generation of young people being marketed to with colourful looking e-cigarettes containing hundreds of poisonous chemicals including those found in bug spray, weed killer and paint thinner, in flavours such as chocolate milk and cola ice.

“We have watched in horror as e-cigarette use by young people in Victoria has rapidly increased. Just when smoking rates among teenagers were approaching zero, we have seen a new vaping epidemic take off like wildfire,” said Craig Sinclair, Acting Quit Director.

“It took us decades to understand the health impacts of smoking. What we do know about e-cigarettes is that use can impede brain development in young people, lead to seizures and loss of concentration, exacerbate mood disorders, inhibit sleep and cause irritability and anxiety. We also know that people who vape are three times more likely to smoke cigarettes.”

“We want people to get the facts on vaping,” continues Mr Sinclair. “That’s why we’ve recently launched a marketing campaign targeting young people aged 14 to 39.”

A staggering 77,200 Victorian adults, who had previously never smoked, started vaping over the past three years.

The campaign is aligned with an online hub to help parents to have conversations with their teens about e-cigarettes. “We know vaping is a big issue for parents and teachers and we hope to support them and their teens on their journey to quit.”

Thanks to the help of our generous supporters, Cancer Council Victoria will continue to advocate for, and implement programs to create, healthier environments.