E-cigarettes and vaping

Using a vape is often called ‘vaping’. Vapes heat a liquid that emits an aerosol which is inhaled through a mouthpiece, and then exhaled by the user as a fine-particulate smoke.

The liquid is often called ‘e-liquid’, ‘e-juice’, or ‘vape juice’ and is intended to deliver chemicals directly to the lungs.

E-liquids can come in thousands of different flavours, such as tobacco, confectionery, fruit and other flavours.

The biggest misunderstanding about vapes is that they are harmless compared to cigarettes. This is not true. Vapes are not safe.

When you vape, you don't vape water. The main ingredient in vapes is propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine or glycerol, they often contain nicotine, flavours and other chemicals.

Vapes may contain harmful chemicals that aren’t listed on the pack.

What are you really vaping?

When you inhale aerosol from a vape you can be exposed to potentially harmful substances including:

• nicotine
• cancer-causing chemicals
• the same harmful chemicals found in cleaning products, nail polish remover, weedkiller and bug spray
• toxins such as formaldehyde
• heavy metals such as nickel, tin and lead
• ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs
• flavouring chemicals such as diacetyl, a chemical linked to serious lung disease
• volatile organic compounds.

Visit Clear the Air (external site) to learn more about the toxic and addictive chemicals in vapes.

Vapes may expose you to chemicals at levels that have the potential to cause negative health effects. In the short-term this includes vomiting, nausea and irritation to the throat and lungs. Vaping can impact your lungs, fitness and mental health. Importantly, many of the long-term harms of vaping are still unknown.

Serious lung disease

Vaping has been linked to serious lung disease.

Nicotine can harm the developing brain

The brain goes through important changes during puberty and continues to develop until around age 25. Nicotine changes the way brain synapses are formed in young people, which can harm the parts of the brain that control learning, attention, memory and mood.

Vapes have even been known to explode causing serious burns

There have been several cases reported where e-cigarette batteries or devices have overheated, caught fire or exploded. This can cause serious and, in some cases, life-threatening injury, disability and disfigurement.

Long-lasting damaging effects on the brain and physical development

Vapes containing nicotine can cause long-lasting damaging effects on the brain and physical development. The impacts can include impaired attention, learning, memory and changes in mood. 

Nicotine poisoning

If e-liquids that contain nicotine are swallowed or absorbed through the skin, it can result in poisoning which can be severe and even fatal. Too much nicotine from using vapes can also cause nicotine poisoning.

If you think someone has been poisoned by nicotine, call the WA Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 immediately (24 hours a day) or 000 if it is an emergency. For more information see the WA Poisons Information Centre (external site).

Mental health risks

Vaping nicotine can make symptoms of depression and anxiety worse.

Regular nicotine use can also make young people more susceptible to experiencing mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.

Second-hand exposure to harmful substances

The aerosol that users inhale and exhale from e-cigarettes can expose both themselves and bystanders to harmful substances.

Even though the packs don't say it, most vapes contain high levels of nicotine, like cigarettes. You can become addicted to nicotine very quickly and find it difficult to stop vaping.

Symptoms of nicotine addiction

The symptoms of nicotine addiction from vapes are the same as cigarettes, and can make you feel:

• irritable
• anxious
• experience intense cravings to vape.

You may also experience a lack of concentration when you can't vape and have trouble sleeping.

Young people who vape are three times as likely to start smoking

Vaping among young people is strongly linked to the use of other tobacco products such as regular cigarettes, cigars, shisha and smokeless tobacco.

A person must not manufacture, supply, prescribe or possess a product containing nicotine without an appropriate licence, a professional authority or a prescription, as applicable. Nicotine is a dangerous poison, even in small quantities, and it is strictly regulated in WA under the Medicines and Poisons Act 2014 (external site)

National and state laws have changed in 2024 to strengthen controls on the importation, manufacture, and supply of all vaping products (with or without nicotine).

Nicotine vaping products can only be dispensed by a pharmacist with a valid prescription from a medical practitioner or nurse practitioner. In Western Australia, pharmacists cannot supply vaping products ‘over the counter’ without a prescription.

If you suspect someone is selling e-cigarettes or nicotine vaping products, you can report it to the Department of Health by emailing vape.report@health.wa.gov.au or you can report to CrimeStoppers (1800 333 000) (external site).

Young people

If you need information or support to stop vaping, speak with your parents, teacher or student services staff. You can also:

• Visit Clear the Air (external site) for more information about how to quit vaping and stay vape-free (external site), or to take the ‘Am I addicted?’ Quiz (external site).
• Contact the WA Quitline on 13 7848 (13 QUIT), or via web chat (external site).

Other support services include:

• Headspace (external site) provides information, support and services to young people aged 12 to 25 years, including for mental health and wellbeing, and alcohol and other drug use. 
• Kids Helpline (external site) provides confidential online and phone counselling for young people aged 5 to 25 years any time (available 24/7) for any reason. Phone 1800 55 1800

Parents and carers

If you suspect your child is vaping, take the time to talk to them about it and help them understand all of the risks.

Try to start the conversation with your child in a relaxed easy-going way, perhaps taking the cue from around you, such as a note from school, a news story about it, or seeing people vaping on the street. And have your facts ready.

If your child is vaping, encourage them to stop and let them know that help is available, and you are there for them. Stopping vaping can sometimes be hard and your child may need advice from a GP.

For information and support you can also contact the WA Quitline (external site) on 13 7848 (13 QUIT). Quitline counsellors can answer any questions you may have about e-cigarettes and can help you think of ways to approach the conversation.