Vaping

What is vaping?

The action of using a battery-operated device which is used to heat up a liquid where a vapor is produced then inhaled

Other names for vapes

• Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes)

• Pens

• Pods

• Juul

• E-hookah

• Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS)

History of Vaping

1930: Patent granted to Joseph Robinson

1963: Herber A.Gilbert filed for a patent a device similar to an e-cigarette

2003: Hon Lik invented the first commercially successful e-cigarette

2006: E-cigarettes introduced to America / Europe

Vaping Devices

• Disposable vapes

• Pod style vapes

• Refillable vapes

  Can look like cigarettes, cigars, pipes, pens, USB memory sticks, highlighters and other everyday items

Vaping devices have evolved over time

Vaping devices

• Open system: Users manually refill the e-liquid, users can change the nicotine strengths. Higher risk of misuse

• Closed system: Used pre-filled cartridge that are not refillable

• Disposable: Throw away after use

• Rechargeable vapes: Contain a built-in battery that can be recharged via USB

Vaping devices

The evolution of E-cigarette

• 1st generation: Appearance: Resemble traditional cigarettes in shapes and size. Closed system with pre-filled cartridge, non-rechargeable

• 2nd generation: Appearance: Pen-like, larger than cigarlike. Typically, open system, refillable tanks. Battery rechargeable with moderate capacity

• 3rd generation: Appearance: Bulky, box-shaped, customizable. System: Advanced open system. Battery: High capacity, often removable batteries. High vapor production, intense flavor

• 4th generation: Appearance: small, sleek compact. Mostly closed system (pre-filled pods), some open pods. Battery: Rechargeable. Has taste

The anatomy of a Vaping Device

Most vaping devices have FOUR different components:

• The cartridge: contains the liquid solution

• The Atomizer: The heating source

• The power Source: The battery

• The mouthpiece: inhalation of vapor

  Air —> sensor —> nicotine burns—> liquid vaporised

Main ingredients

• Propylene glycol

• Vegetable Glycerin

• Glycerol

• Flavorings

• Nicotine

What’s really in a Vape E-liquid

• Carcinogens: heavy metals

• Volatile organic compounds: acetone

• Inaccurate labelling.

• Nicotine Free? Some do have nicotine in them

Epidemiology-Globally

• E-cigarettes have been increasingly popular in recent years

• Increase prevalence in America, Canada and the United Kingdom

• Systematic review found that e-cigarette usage among American teenagers increased over 19% from 2011 to 2018

• Lower prevalence in Asian countries

• Estimated 35 million people are using ENDS

• E-cigarettes made $15.7 billion worth of sales in 2018

• Projected to more than double to $40 billion by end of 2023

Epidemiology- In Australia

• Increasing in Australia

• 11% of the Australian population over 14 years has vaped (2019)

• More than one in three 16-24 years old have vaped

• NSW has the highest number of teenager-to-adolescent vapers

• Lower usage of vapes among older age groups

• Males are more likely to vape than females

• The proportion of vapers among smokers and non-smokers has increased across all age groups except for the oldest

Vaping amongst Australian Teenagers

• Widespread in Australian High schools

• Becoming increasingly common in Australin Primary Schools

• Usage is higher with age

• Boys are more likely than girls to vape

• Link to smoking cigarettes?

Regulation

• Ban the selling of electronic cigarettes

• Restrictions on the sale of electronic cigarettes

• Amount of nicotine / other content of electronic cigarettes limited

• Health warnings on packaging

• Taxes on electronic cigarettes

• Advertising and promoting restrictions

Regulation-Globally

• The European Union (EU), has a nicotine concentration threshold of 20mg/mL

• China limits nicotine concentration to a maximum of 200mg per e-cigarette

• Denmark and Israel require plain packaging of e-cigarettes

• The EU requires health warnings on products that contain Nicotine

• Flavorings have been banned in Canada, Finland and the Netherland

Regulation - In Australia

• June 2020: Crackdown on Vaping

• October 1st, 2021: Prescription needed for purchase/importation of nicotine vaping products

• November 2022: Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to run a public consultation process on regulation of nicotine vaping products

Regulation in Australia

• May 2nd, 2023: Stronger regulation/enforcement on e-cigarettes ‘including new controls on their importation, contents and packaging’

• Banning imports of non-prescription vaping products

• Authorization for all GPs to provide prescriptions for patients to obtain vapes

• Vaping products to only be available in pharmacies

• Pharmaceutical-style packaging with reduced flavors, colors and nicotine volumes

• Ban on single-use disposable vapes

• Investment in education and support programs encourages people to quit

• January 1st, 2024: Imported disposable vapes BANNED

• March 1st, 2024: Imported non-therapeutic vapes BANNED

• Mid 2024 changes

  • Offence to commercially supply vapes

  • Enhanced requirement for e-liquid/device components

  • Minimum quality and safety standard for therapeutic vapes

New Regulation in Australia

• March 1st, 2025: Vapes meeting the updated products standards can be imported or manufactured in Australia

• July 1st, 2025: Vapes meeting the updated products standards can be lawfully supplied in Australia

Summary of Updated Product Standards

• New requirements for device labelling/instructions for use

• Plain design/Plain packaging

• Restrictions on container volume and product names

Regulation in NSW

• The smoke-free Environment Act 2000 and the Passenger Transport (General) Regulation 2017 prohibit people from using electronic cigarettes in smoke-free areas

• Under the NSW Public Health (Tobacco) Act 2008, it is illegal to sell e-cigarettes or e-cigarettes accessories to a person under the Age of 18 years of age.

• It is illegal to display, advertise or promote e-cigarettes

• E-cigarettes that do not contain nicotine are legal in NSW. Adults can buy and use e-cigarettes that do not contain nicotine

• E-cigarettes and e-liquids containing nicotine are a prescription only medicine

• It is illegal for retailers (other than pharmacies) to sell e-cigarettes or e-liquids that contain nicotine, including online sales

Vapes purchase

Nicotine

• A stimulant drug

• Highly addictive

• Rapid onset of action

• Nicotine dependence

• Nicotine withdrawal: mental and physical chnages

Nicotine in Youth

• Harms the developing adolescent brain

• Memory, Learning and Attention

• Last cognitive and behavioral impairments

• Brain synapses affected

• Menal health is worsened

Nicotine- Cigarettes vs. Vapes

Cigarettes:

• Has between 8-20 mg of nicotine

• Only 1- 2 mg is actually absorbed by the smoker

• A pack of 20 cigarettes has about 22-36 mg

Vapes

• Comes in a range of volumes and concentrations

• Dependent on vaping device

• How many puffs a day

Nicotine concentration cigarettes vs vape

Nicotine content comparable?

Nicotine