"I am quite passionate about the use of vaping as a Harm Reduction Method to keep adults from smoking deadly tobacco." - Vaping Consumer
- Kim
- Jul 21
- 3 min read
My husband and I are aged 49 years, and we have stopped smoking through vaping six years ago and we both still vape as a harm reduction strategy so that we do not return to smoking cigarettes.
Clearly I am quite passionate about the use of vaping as a Harm Reduction Method to keep adults from smoking deadly tobacco. As I have said my husband and I have both been able to stop smoking using Vaping but it's not just us, my mother, my sister, her fiancé and more recently, my husband’s work colleague have also stopped smoking with vaping, and some stopped vaping after that. I would suggest that for every Vaper that contacts you, there are others in the wings who have also had a positive outcome from the use of vaping in the format it was intended, a Regulated Consumer Product.
Shouldn't that be available for all Australians?
The current model is not working and will continue to fail because of the following reasons:
The prescription/pharmacy pathway involves medical fees and pharmacy markups and is unaffordable for many low-income and disadvantaged people: This will end up costing near to the same price as smoking. Cost is a major reason some people have switched from smoking to vaping - it was for us. All the money we save now goes to our savings and the current increases in the cost of living.
Successful vaping often involves experimentation to find the right setup that works for you. Starting all over again can be a major challenge: The Pharmacy model is going to remove the option for people to be able to experiment with different devices and liquids to find the "one" that will guarantee they quit smoking and stay with vaping until they are ready to also give that up.
Flavours play a major role in keeping vapers away from cigarettes but only tobacco and mint will be available. This is a deal-breaker for many vapers: My husband and I have never vaped tobacco flavours - we have always wanted to stay as far away from tobacco flavours as we could so that we would not be tempted to start smoking again. We started vaping with fruit flavours and then added in bakery flavours, things like apple crumble and this is what has kept us both cigarette free.
This policy is making Vapers angry and frustrated about government interference in their personal choices: I am already angry and frustrated.
I have vaped for six years, more than a year ago I gave up nicotine, so I now vape flavoured, nicotine-free liquid that I mix for myself and my husband (he still uses nicotine and has a Prescription).
Am I going to have to get a prescription to continue to vape Zero Nicotine liquid - why? This makes absolutely no sense to me.
How am I going to be able to mix liquid for my husband to keep him from smoking if all the Vape stores are closing?
If not from Vape Shops, where will I buy flavours?
Where will I be able to buy devices the same as I currently use to replace the ones I have when they need replacing? Simple, I will not be able to buy these products if the Vape stores are closing.
The Pharmacy equipment is not the type of equipment we use. I cannot buy flavours from the pharmacy; I cannot buy mixing equipment from the pharmacy. So my husband and I will have to eventually purchase products from the Black Market or return to Smoking!
Has anyone considered how current Vapers will respond to this proposed policy?
Some vapers have said it’s all just too hard and have already gone back to smoking. Others intend to smoke again when the laws change: This is the biggest shame of all.
The benefits to people's health, well-being and financial situations is at stake.
Can you imagine the impact of a properly regulated system on the Health System of this country? Less people getting lung cancer, emphysema, COPD, reduced pressure on GP's, hospitals and the Health system in general.
Don't you want that for our Country?
Submission To Therapeutic Goods and Other Legislation Amendment (Vaping Reforms) Bill 2024 Inquiry
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