What You Don't Know About Vaping In Australia
- Pippa Starr
- Mar 29
- 24 min read
by Pam Mulholland & Kim Bure
29 March 2025
There is a very large group of people whose voices have been purposefully and effectively silenced by the Australian Government, Australian media and Australian health authorities.
We refer to the approximately 1.7 million adults who vape, the overwhelming majority being people who have previously smoked and who make up 94-96% of vapers in this country. They are also the group vaping was always intended for as a scientifically proven means of significant harm reduction.
In New Zealand this reality is recognised and catered for to the extent that switching from smoking to vaping is promoted and supported. As of the 1st of January this year (2025) free vape kits are being offered to adults via New Zealand’s quit smoking services. This follows the example of the UK where, as part of a government initiated public health program, kits are being offered to a million adult smokers in a scheme called ‘Swap to Stop’.
Both countries also have regulated and age restricted retail markets stocking a wide variety of reusable devices and of e-liquid flavours.
The reason these two countries have those policies is because vaping works.
It is indisputably the most effective and popular method of quitting or substituting for smoking and, while it may not be completely risk free, is less harmful than smoking by orders of magnitude.
Why Australia has instead demonised vaping and adopted the most restrictive legislation in the world, not far short of total prohibition, is a question for another time.
Our purpose here is to give voice to the silenced.
Opposition to the legislation before it was enacted was strong. E-petitions to the federal government can officially take signatures for a maximum of four weeks. In the four weeks up to the 6th of March 2024 an e- petition to Parliament opposing the then proposed legislation was signed at a rate of over 7,000 per week for a total of 28,679. The majority of those petitioners will have been adult ex-smoking vapers and only those who knew about the petition and how to sign it. That is, about 1.6% of Australian adults who had already successfully transitioned from smoking to vaping, many having vaped with minimal government interference for longer than ten years.
While e-liquids containing nicotine could never be sold in vape stores in Australia they could be imported legally via the Personal Importation Scheme prior to March 1st 2024. Alternatively, nicotine could be imported and added to locally sold liquids.This was a long time practice not easily or at all accessible to youth and the quality devices used were reusable as opposed to the disposables that have subsequently flooded the black market.
On the 27th of March 2024 public submissions were sought by the 12th of April on the Therapeutic Goods and Other Legislation Amendment (Vaping Reform) Bill 2024. Of the 281 published submissions the vast majority , 84% were opposed to the legislation. Those opposing (total of 236) included 19 Professors, 11 Doctors and 12 other experts including a criminologist and a law enforcement officer. Only 16% (45) of the submissions were in support and among those 20% (9) were submissions from the state branches of a national cancer organisation. Most supporting submissions were from Australian health authorities or tobacco control academics – in other words ‘The Establishment’.
Attached (below) you will find quotes from submissions by individual adult vapers. We have included only those where numerical information was provided.
Of twenty-seven (27) submitters the average age was 55;
of forty-seven (47) submitters the average number of years smoking was 30;
of fifty-two (52) submitters the average number of years vaping was 8.
These are very much success stories and the ones that, for nefarious reasons, the wider Australian public is not hearing about. They also represent the tip of the iceberg as, again, only vapers who knew about the option to make a submission and how to do it participated.
It is not possible to overstate the negative impact of government, media and health authorities demonisation and restriction of vaping on mature, conscientious adult vapers who are following the science; experiencing immediate health benefits; know they are reducing their chances of succumbing to smoking related diseases or worse, death, and wish to help as many other smokers as possible share in their good fortune.
There has been (and still is) great stress, anger, fear and resentment in the Australian adult vaping community. There is also an unwavering determination to continue the fight for the right to choose to vape unimpeded by legislation designed to – and I quote Health Minister Mark Butler “stamp it out.”
In addition to the attached quotes, in the links below you will find the full published submissions opposing the legislation.
One link is to adult vapers and related entities, the other is to Professors, Doctors and other experts.
You will see that adult vapers were as concerned as everyone else about youth vaping and the availability of disposable vapes via the black market.
Expand Here To See Vapers Quotes
Excerpts from Individual vaper’s public submissions to the Federal Senate Inquiry into the Therapeutic Goods and Other Legislation Amendment (Vaping Reform) Bill 2024
Sub 45: ‘I was a pack a day smoker for 5 years till I took up vaping, my mother smoked for 40+ years, both of us quit using vapes and feel much better for it, physically and financially.’
Sub 46: ‘I remember waking up with phlegm, coughing, constantly smelling of cigarettes, hiding in corners so I wouldn’t be judged as the person in the wheelchair smoking who didn’t care about her health. But I did. Of course I did, I was educated, I was smart, I had willpower, but I couldn’t quit. Until vaping.’
Sub 48: I was a pack a day smoker for fifteen years having started not long after joining the Australian Army in 2005. I attempted with fierce determination many times to quit smoking utilising methods from cold turkey right through to Champix with doctor support and could not kick the habit. Five years ago I decided to switch from smoking to vaping completely and I have not since had a cigarette which has been in both financial and health terms greatly beneficial.
Sub 109: It is not an understatement to say that vaping was nothing short of a miracle for me. I had tried numerous times to quit smoking before using virtually everything: gum, patches, hypnotherapy, books, audio; nothing worked. Within days of quitting smoking, my breathing had improved, I no longer smelled bad and a side benefit was that I finally had a little bit more money that I was ever used to. That was 6 years ago.
Sub 111: I smoked cigarettes for about 15 years - until I found vaping approximately 5 years ago. It took a while for me to find the right device, coil and flavour for me. Once I did I literally stopped smoking overnight.
Sub 112: I was a 1.5 – 2 pack a day smoker for 15 years. I quit once, well before the advent of vaping and stayed quit for ten years and then just like that I was addicted again in 2009. I have been vaping for 13 years. During that time I got my health back. I can breathe well, I have a great lung capacity and exercise frequently. My chest X-ray is clean.
Sub 113: I am 58 years old and started smoking in my early teens….I tried to quit smoking more times than I can count…then in late 2016 I discovered vaping. After many hours of research I purchased a basic refillable device …While I have learnt more since then and purchased better devices – it was instantly successful. I have not smoked a single cigarette since. The health improvements were apparent within days. My breathing improved noticeably and my skin returned to a healthy colour rather than grey and sallow. Words can’t describe how happy I was with this, and how happy my wife and children were.
Sub 114: I am a 48 year old father of 4. I have been using combustible tobacco regularly since the age of 14. Over the years I have attempted to quit using traditional methods – cold turkey, nicotine gum, sprays and lozenges. My partner (45) had been a smoker since the age of 10. She has used the above methods as well as patches and pharmacotherapy (Champix)….In 2018 we tried using an open-tank, refillable vape imported from the US and neither of us have touched a cigarette to this date.
Sub 116: I was a smoker for 40 years tried every way to quit there is. Tried vaping and haven’t smoked since 2020. Never felt better even my doctor is amazed how much my health has improved.
Sub 118: I’m 65 years young and my journey to quitting cigarettes took almost 40 years. 40 years of failing miserably with each attempt. I tried everything from patches to hypnosis. Many more than once or twice, I didn’t want to stop trying. I moved to live in the UK in 2014 until 2016. My husband, also a smoker was admitted to the hospital for pneumonia. Our UK doctor….made the suggestion we try vaping. We went directly to (that) vape shop…. We had nothing to lose. That day, my husband and I both quit cigarette smoking.
Sub 119: I am 59 years old and started smoking at the age of 15. When I was 44 years old I was diagnosed with grade 3 breast cancer and I was desperate to give up smoking. The doctor suggested patches and other regular stop smoking devices but after trying them all I still couldn’t stop smoking for more than a day….I then researched alternative methods and I decided to try vaping. I ordered an e-cig look alike from America and since the day I took up vaping I have not touched a cigarette, my health has improved greatly.
Sub 120: I am a 61 year old adult who after educating myself at some of the best vape stores in Europe quit cigarettes 10 years ago using the open vape nicotine delivery system. Without access to these specialist stores, my quest to quit smoking in Australia would have been far far more difficult.
Sub 122: I have been vaping nicotine flavoured juices over seven years now using a nicotine based vaping device. Prior to this I smoked for over twenty years during which I tried every NRT available, over multiple attempts but sadly the addiction was too strong and I always failed in my attempts… Since choosing vaping as an alternative to smoking my health has completely turned around and my confidence has grown immensely as I was finally able to quit!
Sub 123: I am 68 years of age. I have been vaping for 5 years now. I smoked cigarettes for over 50 years. As my health was really beginning to suffer, i.e. constant cough, shortness of breath, plus going through recover from breast cancer, I decided to look into vaping….almost immediately, my cough disappeared, I could play with my granddaughter and dog, without becoming breathless. While smoking I had felt that my time on earth was seriously being limited but now I am as strong as I have ever been.
Sub 126: I am almost 70 years of age and have been vaping for 13 years. Over my life since starting smoking at 16 I tried everything else available to quit smoking permanently, without success, and have experienced significant improvements in health due to vaping.
Sub 128: I am a 40 year old male and have been a user of nicotine vape products for more than 3 years after heavily smoking for 16 years. Since I began using vape products, I have successfully remained completely smoke-free and have seen immense improvement in my breathing and general health.
Sub 129: While vaping may not be good for you (no one is claiming it is) it is far less harmful than smoking cigarettes and my health is significantly better for making the switch. Vaping helped me quit smoking after 50 years of smoking every single day, the only reason I was able to quit and maintain a cigarette free life is because I have been able to utilise nicotine free vapes.
Sub 132: I began smoking at a young age, picking up the habit at work when I was 16. Up to a pack a day 5 years later, the constant cough, poor fitness and shortness of breath, urged me to look at quitting. I began with the chemist’s recommendations; patches, then chewing gum, then inhalers and sprays…but no combination kicked the habit. It wasn’t until I visited a vape store (16 years ago!) that I found a less harmful alternate that has worked. Fast forward to today and I’ve seen a vast improvement in my: breathing, fitness levels, sense of taste & smell and no persistent coughs!
Sub 136: I’m a vaper of twelve years. Nothing else worked for me to quit smoking. Was a smoker for 28 years.
Sub 137: I vape and as such have not smoked at all for 4.5 years.
Sub 138: I am a 63 year old woman, and up until seven and a half years ago I was a pack a day smoker. I smoked for 42 years. My health was suffering as a result of my habit and I was advised by my doctor to quit smoking or face the inevitable. I was extremely concerned as to how I was going to do this as I had tried many cessation methods in the past and none of them had worked. In 2016 I was introduced to vaping as an alternative to smoking. I decided that I had nothing to lose by trying. This decision was the best decision I have ever made regarding my health as it proved to be successful and I have been smoke free since.
Sub 140: My wife is aged 63 and I am aged 64. We are nicotine addicts, who smoked for 40 years, and, we transitioned to vaping for harm reduction purposes 7 years ago.
Sub 154: I have been using vape juice since the age of 18 to avoid cigarettes. Of which I had been smoking since the age of 16. Upon trying and failing other methods of smoking cessation, vaping has been a successful tool for me and millions of others to stop smoking cigarettes.
Sub 156: I am a 50 year old male, single father with 2 daughters aged 9 and 12…I was also a smoker for over 25 years, from the age of 14 until around the age of 40. I had tried to quit quite probably 15 – 20 times with different levels of success but all inevitably failures. At the age of 40 I was overweight, my fitness was poor, I had a constant cough and would get sick several times a year with chest infections. It was also at this time I discovered vaping. Within 1 month I had gone from a packet of cigarettes a day (25) to around 4 or 5. By the end of the second month I was down to I – 2 a day and some days didn’t smoke at all. A week or two into my third month I had stopped smoking completely with very little effort if any. I no longer had the desire to smoke, because I was vaping instead.
Sub 157: Within a few months of switching to vapes completely (not smoking and vaping at the same time). The side effects of smoking for over 10 years improved dramatically. My wheezing completely stopped, food tasted better, my lung capacity greatly improved (able to blow up a balloon effortlessly), I didn’t lose my breath easily when walking or talking and the biggest bonus: I didn’t have any side-effects.
Sub 159: I was a lifelong tobacco smoker, having become addicted in my early teens…I tried to quit smoking for more than 40 years via ‘cold turkey’, various NRT systems and even hypnotherapy. Each of these quit attempts failed. About ten years ago I discovered vaping and, after a couple of false starts I determined which delivery system and formulation worked best for me. I finally quit smoking and I have not used tobacco for many years now….my vastly improved health and fitness (not to mention my financial health) are an enduring benefit of vaping as an effective smoking cessation strategy. It has saved my life.
Sub 165: Six years ago I finally managed to stop smoking and have not smoked again. I started smoking in my teens and had tried to give up dozens of times. I tried cold turkey many times, gum, lozenges and a variety of vaping devices. It was only when I was introduced to a pod style vape that I finally stopped using tobacco for good. I have now substantially improved my health both physically and mentally as a result.
Sub 171: I had been a long term cigarette smoker, trying to quit with no avail with nicotine patches and the like. My breathing specialist suggested vaping as an alternative to cigarette smoking. I haven’t smoked cigarettes for over five years.
Sub 176: 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.
Sub 180: I was a lifetime smoker, and vapes have allowed me to break the shackles of cigarettes and has led to a healthier and more energetic life for me. I am married to a very experienced doctor and she is very supportive of my vaping rather than smoking cigarettes.
Sub 181: About 7 years ago I decided that I had done smoking cigarettes. I mean I gave it a really good go over many decades. Having tried many options to quit over those decades nothing worked for me until I tried the vape. Vaping got me off the cigs.
Sub 182: I am a Gen X male who smoked for 25 years and had not attempted to quit until I encountered vaping. In 2011 a work colleague introduced me to vaping. I was curious so I ordered a kit and within a couple of days of receiving it became obvious that there was no point in smoking as vaping satisfied my habit. Since that time I have not purchased any cigarettes or any product manufactured by a tobacco company and this year it will be my 13th year of smoking abstinence. In that time I have become a father to 2 children who have never known me to smoke and I will likely be around longer for them than if I had continued smoking.
Sub 187: Nine years ago, I found myself trapped in the vicious cycle of cigarette addiction. Despite numerous attempts to quit smoking using conventional methods such as patches and gums, I struggled to break free from the grip of nicotine. My health deteriorated, and I felt like I was running out of options. It was during this time I discovered vaping….Since making the switch to vaping, my health has improved dramatically. I no longer experience the constant coughing fits or shortness of breath that plagued my days as a smoker….Most importantly, I no longer live in fear of the life-threatening illnesses associated with traditional tobacco use. Beyond the physical benefits, vaping has also had a profound effect on my mental well-being.
Sub 188: Vaping has been a literal lifesaver for me, it is the only thing which has successfully kept me from smoking cigarettes. My health has improved dramatically and I am no longer spending thousands of dollars a year on cigarettes.
Sub 191: I am 55 years old and was previously a smoker who quit cigarettes with the use of nicotine vaping. Prior to that I had tried patches, hypnosis and cold turkey many times; none of these were successful for quitting smoking. Within a few days of switching to nicotine vaping…my post nasal drip at night had gone and within a few weeks, I felt noticeably better. I feel much healthier, have saved a significant amount of money and no longer smell like an ashtray. I am extremely grateful to vaping.
Sub 192: I was a 40 a day cigarette smoker for 40 years and was unable to quit despite my best efforts. In 2013 I discovered vaping using e-liquid nicotine. Within two weeks I was completely off cigarettes and have not smoked tobacco since. My health improved dramatically and my G.P. has told me had I not switched to vaping I would probably be dead by now from one of several irrefutable smoking-related diseases.
Sub 194: As a former smoker of 18 years, I have experienced firsthand the detrimental effects of traditional cigarette smoking on both my health and finances. For nearly two decades, I was a pack-a-day smoker, battling not only addiction but also the adverse effects of smoking on my respiratory health, particularly asthma. The transition to vaping has been nothing short of transformative. Not only has it saved me a considerable amount of money, but it has also significantly alleviated my asthmatic symptoms, to the point where I no longer require a reliever inhaler.
Sub 196: I became addicted to cigarettes at age 18. I was a heavy smoker for most of my life…In 2020 I made the switch to vaping with nicotine based liquid. I stopped smoking cigars and cigarettes and I haven’t resumed the habit ever since…I breathe better, I’m fitter and much less likely to be a burden on the health system than I was if I was a smoker.
Sub 200: I am a Perth resident and smoked heavily for over 15 years which was starting to take a toll on my physical health and well-being. Like many I tried multiple times using various methods to quit, and failed each time. Vaping was the only effective solution…I am now happily tobacco free for over 3 years and am feeling the best I have in years. Exchanging cigarettes for a vape has positively impacted my relationships, finances, and best of all, my health. I no longer have a persistent cough and have much better stamina.
Sub 206: I am 51 and have been smoking cigarettes for well over 20 years and possibly more. I decided to give vaping a try in 2015 and I have not touched a cigarette since…I have tried other quitting methods but found myself always craving for a cigarette, then returning to cigarettes in a short period of time.
Sub 210: I have been a heavy smoker for over 40 years. Over the last 12 months I have managed to reduce from 40 cigarettes a day to 4 or 5 with the aim of stopping cigarettes completely this year. I managed the reduction by using vapes. Initially I used vapes with nicotine but over the last 6 months have been using nicotine free vapes.
Sub 213: My wife and I have been vaping for over 7 years now and glad we made the change from smoking. Before I switched to vaping I was smoking about 25 smokes a day and my wife was double that. I started to get smokers cough and my health was going downhill. I heard about vapes from a friend at work so I did my research and I decided to give it a try. It took me about 6 months to stop smoking but I did it and I haven’t looked back. My health improved and I wasn’t going to the doctor every 3 months with either a throat or chest infection.
Sub 214: For 22 years I was a cigarette smoker, a habit that severely compromised my health and quality of life. However, five years ago, I discovered vaping, which has been instrumental in my journey to quit smoking. Since transitioning to vaping, I have noticed significant improvements in my health, particularly in my cardiovascular well-being. This change was made possible by utilising high-quality vape liquids from reputable Australian and US manufacturers and a regulated vape device sourced from trusted suppliers.
Sub 215: Cigarettes have impacted my family in the worst way they can, both my parents have died from smoking related cancers. Knowing this, I still struggled with this harmful addiction. 3 years ago I educated myself on what vaping is. I focused on science and the proven health benefits found in countries that are promoting a healthier general public. Since then, I have successfully quit cigarettes, improved my health and lifestyle. My family has experienced a smoke free, healthy and happy Dad.
Sub 216: I began smoking when I was about 19 years old….My smoking habit ramped up very quickly to a pack a day. I tried every conceivable method to stop as I could feel my health was suffering, Patches, Gum, Hypnosis, Cold Turkey, nothing worked. A friend introduced me to vaping at a Christmas function in 2018, I ordered a device from the US which arrived on the 14th January 2019. That was the last day I had a cigarette. My health has improved dramatically since then, I no longer wheeze continually, I can walk upstairs without feeling like I may faint, I wake up in the mornings no longer racing outside to smoke, and I am no longer panning my day around when I might be able to squeeze in my next cigarette.
Sub 222: I’m 48 years old and have been vaping since 2019. Vaping was the only thing that helped me stop smoking. I was a pack a day smoker for 20 years.
Sub 223: My wife and I both gave up cigarettes, after some 50 years of smoking, thanks to vaping, literally overnight. We finished the remaining cigarettes, went to bed and woke to vaping and have not looked back. Over the years we tried many times to quit…we also spent hundreds of dollars on quit smoking programmes but inevitably drifted back to cigarettes. Our health and fitness has improved re-markedly and noticeably.
Sub 224: My name is--- a 36 year old…who comes from a family of long-time smokers and have a personal history of smoking that was effectively ended through the use of vaping. My battle with nicotine addiction began at 15, quickly escalating to a pack-a-day habit that plagued my health for over twenty years. Despite various attempts at quitting – through nicotine patched, gums, and even medical interventions under healthcare supervision – none provided a sustainable solution. It was not until I discovered vaping that I found a viable alternative that effectively addressed my addiction. Vaping not only replicated the physical aspects of smoking but also drastically reduced my exposure to the harmful chemicals found in traditional cigarettes. The positive effect on my health was profound and immediate….Furthermore, my success has encouraged my mother to successfully quit smoking through vaping, after smoking for over 40 years.
Sub 225: I am a 73 year old female who began vaping 10 years ago as a last attempt to stop smoking after more than 50 years of smoking. It took me seven months of dual use to stop smoking and over a year after that to stop craving tobacco. I am still constantly astonished that I am alive after expecting to be dead within five years when I was very sick because of my smoking.
Sub 226: I am a 70 year old ex-smoker, and a current vaper. 10 years ago, I quit smoking after over 40 years of heavy smoking (60 roll-your-own cigarettes a day). It was not easy, but I stumbled upon vaping, and I quit smoking instantly….My health has improved immeasurably (my doctor concurs). I am living much healthier and longer for my family and friends.
Sub 227: …I am a former smoker of 21 years who finally broke free from the clutches of tobacco thanks to vaping…In 2018, after decades of smoking and witnessing the toll it took on my health, I made the courageous decision to switch to vaping. Fruit flavoured e-liquids became my lifeline, offering a semblance of pleasure without the deadly consequences of combustible tobacco. The impact was profound – I haven’t touched a cigarette since.
Sub 228: My name is -----, I’m 37 years old…I was a smoker from 2004 until 2014. I’ve tried to quit numerous times using patches, gums and an unsuccessful trial of champix. In July 2014 I made the transition to using e-cigarettes....Since I started using an e-cigarette in 2014, I have experienced significant improvements in my health. I have more energy, can breathe better and my lungs are a lot clearer….My dad, who is now 70, has been a pack a day smoker since he was 17, but I introduced him to e-cigarettes in 2017 and he gave up cigarettes as a result and he now uses an e-cigarette as well. His health has improved dramatically as a result too.
Sub 229: I am 60 years old, and I am a former smoker. I used to smoke cigarettes and occasionally a pipe. I tried to give up tobacco many times by various methods, each time eventually failing and returning to cigarettes. I finally succeeded in quitting cigarettes in the space of three days by switching to vaping with a commercially available vaporizer and nicotine vape juice. I have never relapsed since switching to vaping. Since switching to vaping my health has dramatically improved.
Sub 231: I am a 51 year old male that started smoking when I was 13 years old….I used to smoke a pack a day until I quit smoking in October 2016. I had tried quitting smoking many times in my life using everything on the market including patches, gums, medication and hypnosis but none of these worked. …I was told by the doctors that if I did not give up smoking it was going to kill me. I had already started researching vaping and the effectiveness of it as a tool to help me stop smoking as well as researching the peer reviewed reports on the safety of vaping compared to smoking….in late October 2016 I started vaping and cutting back on the cigarettes. Within 3 weeks, I had managed to completely stop smoking with vaping. Within the first year of vaping I stopped getting lung infections/pneumonia, I no longer have the smokers cough, my sense of smell has returned.
Sub 235: In 2018 I suffered a heart attack and was advised by my cardiologist to never have another cigarette. At that time I decided to try vaping with nicotine liquid. My cardiologist was happy with that as I would not be inhaling combusted tobacco or carbon monoxide.
Sub 239: My health from over 30 years of smoking was not fantastic. I smoked up until the day I had all I needed to start with (a) vape. I can now say after over 10 years since that day I have not touched a cigarette. I have not vaped in over a year and stopped using nicotine in my vape after 6 years.
Sub 242: I am 62 years of age and I had been a heavy smoker for 48 years. I started smoking when I joined the army in 1979 and hadn’t stopped until November last year 2023 when I tried vaping as a last resort. I’ve tried just about everything before including patches, inhalers, lozenges and prescription medication, all with no joy. But I’m very happy to say I’ve not had any type of tobacco product since last year and also no cravings for cigarettes at all!
Sub 244: I am a mother of two children one of whom suffered with Leukaemia at 6 months old. I quit smoking for her, it was difficult both mentally and physically and could not have been done without the use of vape products.
Sub 245: I smoked for 30 years and tried to quit countless times using willpower as well as patches and gums that made me nauseous. By my late 30s my health was noticeably declining due to smoking. I was even told I already had emphysema in its early stages. Despite (this) I was unable to stop smoking until years later in 2018. After considering vaping for a couple of years I finally bought a starter kit in 2018, intending to use it to reduce my smoking. After a couple of months I realised I would rather vape than smoke, and my dependence on cigarettes was broken.
Sub 247: I smoked for over 23 years and was constantly ill with chest infections, a sore throat and even coughing up black mucus. I switched to vaping 4 years ago after a family member mentioned that she had heard it was like smoking but without all the tar and chemicals. Before I used my first vape I researched everything and found it was 95% less harmful than smoking cigarettes. Since switching to vaping I am no longer ill all the time, my chest is as clear as a non- smoker and I’m no longer coughing up mucus.
Sub 251: I have had incredible difficulty quitting smoking. I smoked for 25 years before switching to vaping. I tried everything but only vaping has helped me quit. I have been vaping for ten years. Its way cheaper and I don’t seem to have any health problems eg no cough which I had with smoking and I work out at a fairly high level for someone my age.
Sub 254: I am just an ordinary person who has smoked for 30+ years and now vapes…I am now smoke free and have never felt better. No more coughing and can now do things I couldn’t as a smoker. All thanks to vaping.
Sub 255: I am currently 55 years old. I started smoking in my teens and continued to do so for around 30 years. (In) 2015 I came across someone vaping. I asked them lots of questions to learn about it as well as seeking knowledge online and from vape shops. On 30th March 2015 all my orders had arrived. I filled my tank with nicotine e-liquid and took my first vape. At this exact moment I put down my cigarettes and never touched them again. To this day I have not had another cigarette but I do still vape. Given my health issues I plan to continue vaping for the rest of my life.
Sub 260: I am a 47 year old Australian woman who has been exclusively vaping since 2015…Before transitioning to vaping, I smoked a pack of cigarettes per day, sometimes more during social events. I had been a smoker since the age of 15 and had attempted to quit numerous times without success. In 2015, after consulting with a quit specialist, I was guided towards vaping as an alternative, and since then, I have not smoked another cigarette. Over the years of vaping, I have experienced notable improvements in my health and overall well-being.
Sub 261: I smoked cigarettes for 37 years and had tried to stop smoking on many occasions without success. When vapes became available I switched to them (10 years ago) and very quickly noticed the health benefits. I no longer suffer from shortness of breath, found it much easier to undertake exercise and am overall much healthier now. It has also led to a significant reduction in my dependence on nicotine. As a smoker I smoked 18mg cigarettes and initially had this percentage in my vapes. I have now reduced to about 2mg.
Sub 262: I am writing to you as a former smoker who struggled to quit for many years until discovering the benefits of vaping. My journey to quit smoking was fraught with difficulties, including failed attempts with various cessation methods. However, I found success through vaping, which not only helped me quit smoking but also significantly improved my health and financial well-being.
Sub 263: I am a 56 year old Canberra woman with complex PTSD, atypical obsessive compulsive disorder, major depressive order and autism. I am strongly opposed to the proposed ban on e-cigarettes and vaping products because I use vaping as a coping mechanism for my mental illness.
Sub 273: 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.
Sub 275: My name is-----a 36 year old male. I began smoking tobacco cigarettes at the tender age of 13….a regrettable start that led to an 18 year addiction. Despite numerous attempts to quit, employing various cessation aids including nicotine patches, gums, and even hypnotherapy, I found myself unable to break free from the grip of cigarettes. By the age of 30, with my health visibly deteriorating. I was desperate for an alternative…within a week of transitioning to vaping, I successfully quit smoking and haven’t looked back since. While I continue to vape regularly, I am a markedly healthier individual – I can engage in physical activities without struggle, experience fewer respiratory issues, and enjoy an overall improved quality of life.
Sub 282: I smoked for well over 35 years – it was one of those things that I wish I had never started but, once I did so, I really enjoyed it and could not stop. Towards the end of my smoking, I was plagued by constant bronchial problems, pains in the throat and chest, severe shortness of breath and constant migraines….I switched to vaping approximately 8-10 years ago, gradually weaning myself off cigarettes over the space of a couple of months. Since switching to vaping I have had none of the medical problems I had when I was smoking. The advantages of vaping over smoking are strikingly clear to me, and the whole vaping experience (such as devices, flavours, etc) has well and truly filled that huge void that stopping smoking had created previously.
Vapers
Professors, Doctors and other experts
