100% Smokefree Success After 4yr Dual Use Quit Method – Vaping Consumer

I’m a 49 year old Queenslander who took up vaping after 30 years of smoking cigarettes.

Like many smokers I tried and failed for decades to quit smoking. I used all the approved methods – cold turkey, NRT, counselling, Champix, Zyban. But each time I’d eventually fail.

I was introduced to vaping in 2017 and over a period of 4 years I used both vapes and cigarettes while weaning off cigarettes.

On 12 February 2021 I had my last cigarette as I made the switch to exclusive vaping and for the first time in my adult life I don’t have a desire to smoke and have none of the signs or symptoms of being a smoker.

There are a number of factors I believe enabled me to rid myself of cigarettes, none of which would be possible under the proposed reforms:

1. Vaping is a direct substitute for smoking. Not a cessation tool like NRT. This is really important as it mimics to a large degree the act of smoking and provides similar levels of satisfaction.

2. I was able to tailor the activity to suit my needs. I change flavours weekly, trialled many different device types, changed the level of nicotine I used.

3. I was able to do it in my own way at my own pace. I had control.

4. I managed my own access and use (post-2021 I had 12-month scripts for liquid nicotine – that was the only interaction with a doctor).

I have no intention of quitting vaping but it’s entirely up to me. I enjoy it and there is no indication of any detrimental effect on my health or wellbeing, particularly compared to smoking.

I firmly believe that, for as long as combustible cigarettes are available in 40,000 outlets any time of the day or night, the 95% safer alternatives must be made equally available, if not more so.

Submission To Therapeutic Goods and Other Legislation Amendment (Vaping Reforms) Bill 2024 Inquiry

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