Tobacco and smoking - Vaping toolkit (2024)

Get the facts about how vaping harms your health, nicotine addiction and how to quit

The facts about vaping
(view the online version)

Do you know what you’re vaping?

Vapes are electronic devices designed to deliver vapourised liquids into your lungs when you breathe in.

The liquid in vapes isn't water. The main ingredient in vapes is propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine or glycerol, and almost all vapes contain nicotine, flavours and other chemicals.

Vapes can contain over 200 chemicals known to harm human health, including the same harmful chemicals found in cleaning products, nail polish remover, weed killer and bug spray.

Vaping facts

Most vapes contain nicotine making them addictive – you don’t have to vape daily to become addicted
The nicotine in 1 vape can = 50 cigarettes. Depending on the size of the vape and nicotine strength, it is often much higher
The nicotine in vapes can increase feelings of stress and worsen depression and anxiety
The nicotine in vapes can cause changes to brain development, impaired attention, learning and memory
Young people who vape are 3 times as likely to take up smoking cigarettes

Does vaping harm your health?

There is evidence to prove that vaping causes harm. These harms include:

nicotine addiction
nicotine poisoning
throat irritation and cough
breathlessness
dizziness
headaches
nausea
lung damage
serious burns.

Watch this video to learn how vaping affects the brain:

What support can I access to quit vaping?

It is possible to quit vaping. People are more likely to quit successfully if they have help from a health professional.

See your general practitioner, youth health service, or other health services to help quit vaping.

Visit Vaping – Quit support for practical tips and strategies on how you can manage cravings and quit.

You can also call the Quitline on 13 7848 (13 QUIT). Quitline is a telephone-based service, offering information and advice on how to quit based on your own needs and preferences. You can access the Aboriginal Quitline by calling 13 7848 and asking to speak to an Aboriginal counsellor.

What mental health support is available?

Vaping is associated with mental health conditions, and regular nicotine consumption may worsen stress, depression and anxiety. If you find yourself experiencing any mental health issues at all, free help is available. Here are some of the mental health support services available:

Headspace
NSW Mental Health Line 1800 011 511 (24/7)
Kids Helpline 1800 551 800 (24/7)
Kids Helpline Online Chat