Stringent anti-vaping laws are proving their worth in Australia, where health authorities say the habit is steadily declining among youngsters, and recent research shows vaping rates dropping from 17.5% at the start of 2023 to 14.6% in April this year among children aged 14-17.
The Guardian reports that overall, rates for people over 15 reduced by more than a third, while vaping rates among the 30-59-year age group also halved.
The Cancer Council’s latest Generation Vape research data follow the July 2024 vaping reforms, which were designed to curb youth access and use, and to reduce the social acceptability of vaping.
The figures coincide with an announcement by the Therapeutic Goods Administration and Australian Border Force than more than 10m illicit vapes had been seized since January 2024 when the importation of the devices was banned.
Health Minister Mark Butler said the early positive signs came 12 months after the country introduced world-leading laws restricting the sale of vapes to pharmacies, and requiring the presentation of ID.
People under 18 can only access vapes with a prescription from a doctor and sales at smoke shops and petrol stations are banned, regardless of their nicotine content.
Advertising for vaping products is also not allowed.
However, under-the-counter sales are common, with experts warning that unaffordable legal cigarettes and vape restrictions have caused an explosion in black market trade.
Nevertheless, the report found some “promising trends”, including that more than 85% of young people had never vaped, and smoking levels were at their lowest in the study’s history.
The report said curiosity about vaping continued to decline, with fewer than a third of young people interested in taking up vaping. It also found that social norms are shifting – some participants expressed embarrassment and shame about their habit, and said they did not want to be considered a “vaper”.
In South Australia, school suspensions related to vaping have dropped by 50% since the new laws were introduced. In term 1 of 2023, suspensions topped 388. That number fell to 186 in term 1 of 2024 and a trend of 50% declines continued throughout terms 2 and 3.
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Survey shows that Australian teenagers have ready access to illegal vaping products
Anti-vaping research drowns out harm reduction advocates in Australia
Australia: New laws won’t drive vapers back to smoking, say experts