Vaping

Vapes are devices that heat an e-liquid (vape juice) which produces an aerosol that you inhale or 'vape'. This gives you nicotine with less toxins than burning tobacco.

Vapes come in a range of styles, including:

• devices that look like smokes
• pod devices with a disposable cartridge
• pen devices with a refillable tank, and replaceable coil that heats the vapour.

E-liquids usually contain:

• propylene glycol which creates a 'throat sensation' like smoking
• vegetable glycerol which produces thicker 'clouds' and a smoother vape
• nicotine
• flavours.

The best thing you can do for your health is to quit smoking. Vaping may be an option for you if you have tried other ways to quit that did not work for you.

You should aim to stop vaping once you have quit smoking and feel sure you will not go back to smoking. It may take some time to become vapefree.

Quitting vaping

Tips to help switch to vaping

Your local stop smoking service and Quitline have qualified staff who can support you to quit smoking through vaping. This will give you a better chance of quitting successfully. They can help you stop vaping too.

Vaping is different to smoking. It can take time to work out which vaping style, e-liquid and nicotine strength work best for you. Talk to your local stop smoking service, Quitline, or staff at specialist vape shops about the best way to vape when you are trying to quit.

Use an e-liquid with nicotine in it for a higher chance of success. You can reduce the amount of nicotine in your e-liquid over time.

Use quality products from a trusted source, like a specialist vape shop. It is important to have good equipment, advice and support.

Different strengths of nicotine

Vape e-liquid comes in different strengths of nicotine.

To help minimise withdrawal symptoms, people need to choose the right nicotine strength. The strength you start with depends on how much you smoke.

• More than 20 cigarettes a day: Use a high nicotine strength (18 to 20mg/mL).
• 10 to 20 cigarettes a day: Start with a medium strength (12 to 18mg/mL).
• Fewer than 10 cigarettes a day: Use a low strength (6 to 12mg/mL).

If you vape, you should try to slowly lower the nicotine strength in your e-liquid and vape less often over time. You should only do this when you feel sure you will not go back to smoking, and you do not need to vape more to make up for the lower nicotine. The aim is to be both smokefree and vapefree.

Vaping has not been around long enough to know the risks of long-term use. We know it is not harmless. It can affect the lungs and worsen asthma symptoms. Vaping should only be used by people who want to quit smoking.

Avoid smoking and vaping around newborns, tamariki, and rangatahi. This protects their health and avoids normalising vaping or smoking. Keep vape gear and e-liquid away from them.

Vaping contains nicotine which can have some negative effects on brain development in adolescents. Being addicted to vaping can affect their relationships, education, and behaviour.

Long term use of nicotine can increase heart rate and lead to increases in blood pressure.

If you are pregnant, talk to your healthcare provider, midwife, local stop smoking service, or Quitline about the best ways to quit during pregnancy.

Common side effects of vaping include:

• coughing
• dry mouth and throat
• throat irritation.

These side effects are associated with inhaling the vapour and are also associated with smoking.

Nicotine addiction

Nicotine is addictive and is present in most e-liquids. Nicotine itself is not very harmful to an adult's health, but the other things inhaled along with the nicotine may be. Nicotine can be harmful to young people and addictions can have negative impacts on the physical, mental, financial and spiritual health of a person and their whānau. 

Te hā

For Māori and some other cultures, the breath or hā is sacred. Similar to smoking, vaping may interfere with your hā and the hā of those around you.

Some people do not like being around vaping, or may be sensitive to the vapour. Be mindful of where you vape, especially indoors and in smokefree public places. Avoid vaping near tamariki and rangatahi, and stop if someone asks you to.

Second-hand vapour is likely to be low risk, but it is best not to vape around tamariki. If you vape, be open with young people about why, explain it is not for non-smokers and under-18s. Keep vapes stored safely out of reach. Never give a vape to minors.

Vaping at work

Vaping is not allowed in smokefree indoor workplaces, including bars and restaurants. Business owners can decide if vaping is allowed outdoors. If someone is vaping to quit smoking, support them while still being considerate of others.