The Australian government is cracking down on vaping, yesterday banning the importation and sale of non-prescription vapes and leaving plenty of consumers wondering how they will quit.
It's great news for the growing number of young people who are finding themselves addicted to nicotine before their brains and bodies have even finished developing.
Director of Quit — a Cancer Council initiative — Matthew Scanlon is "truly relieved" to see the products, which he said "were never designed for recreational use," outlawed across the country.
"Minister Butler's announcement again puts Australia at the forefront of tobacco control, with vaping considered the resurgence of the tobacco industry," Mr Scanlon said.
"We can now do more to protect a whole new generation from becoming addicted to nicotine."
Health Minister Mark Butler labelled the trend of youth vaping as "the biggest loophole in Australian history".
How can young people quit vaping?
According to Australia's Alcohol and Drug Foundation, almost 80 per cent of under 25s have tried vaping, and the number of daily and monthly e-cigarette users is growing.
In a generation that isn't inclined to seek help from traditional hotlines, with a majority of young people agreeing they feel anxious talking on the phone, many young people are left wondering how to tackle the mammoth task of quitting.
That's why, in addition to the free 13 QUIT hotline and one-on-one counselling, there's also support available online and live chat options on existing apps.
"There are a range of digital channels [available]," Mr Scanlon said.
"Things like WhatsApp [and Facebook Messenger] are more likely to appeal to a younger audience, who are less likely to pick up the phone and make a call."
Vapes having the opposite intended effect
Vaping has not only become popular among non-smokers, but Mr Scanlon said those who have given up cigarettes are picking the habit back up again.
"We're also hearing from people who have successfully quit smoking, only then to take up vaping," he said.
"[They're] becoming more addicted to nicotine and then [turning back to] smoking to give up vaping."
Prescriptions for 'legitimate' medical use
In addressing the National Press Club of Australia on Tuesday, Minister Butler said the government is "under no illusion about how hard [it] will be" to shut down the booming vape black market.
While all single-use vapes are being banned – whether they contain nicotine or not – the government is making it easier to secure a prescription for "legitimate" therapeutic use like helping to quit smoking.
"These are supposed to be pharmaceutical products so they will have to present that way, no more bubble-gum flavours, pink unicorns or vapes disguised as highlighter pens for kids to hide them in their pencil cases," the minister said.
"There is absolutely a place for e-cigarettes … for those who have been long-term smokers, as a really last-ditch effort at satiation," Mr Scanlon said.
"E-cigarettes can be prescribed under the careful supervision of a GP to help [patients] give up smoking."
The perfect time to quit
Hotlines like 13 QUIT are anticipating a growth in business following the ban.
"The quitline is seeing calls from clients as young as 12 right up to 79-years-old requesting support to quit vaping," Mr Scanlon said.
"We've also had concerned parents, teachers and siblings asking for advice on how to support those close to them who are struggling.
"We were at a real crossroads, a population health crisis, and this [government] announcement will go on to protect a whole generation."
