From the 1st of October, Australians will legally be able to purchase nicotine vaping products
from participating pharmacies. While an improvement on previous legislation which required
people to acquire a medical prescription to purchase a vape, this approach remains inadequate
and imposes significant barriers for people seeking alternatives to deadly cigarettes.
Tobacco harm reduction focuses on directly minimising the harm associated with smoking
without necessarily eliminating nicotine consumption altogether. This approach is explicitly
endorsed in Australia’s National Drug Strategy and is also supported by Australia’s commitment
as a signatory to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. However, despite these
endorsements, Australia has staunchly opposed tobacco harm reduction in practice.
Countries like New Zealand, the UK, Sweden, and Japan have seen an accelerated decline in
smoking rates by embracing tobacco harm reduction. By contrast, since 2011, Australia has
imposed stricter regulations on vaping – a much safer alternative to smoking. This is particularly
concerning given that cigarettes, which are responsible for the deaths of up to two out of every
three long-term smokers, remain readily available from over 40,000 outlets across the country.
Each year, smoking causes the deaths of 21,000 Australians, a toll greater than the combined
fatalities from all other psychoactive drugs (including alcohol, prescription drugs, and illicit
substances), along with HIV, suicide, and road crashes. Smoking remains the leading
preventable cause of death and disease, both in Australia and globally. It also significantly
contributes to economic inequality and health disparities, disproportionately affecting poorer
communities. Many people struggling with alcohol and other drug issues also smoke heavily,
and often go on to die from smoking-related conditions.
Globally, four reduced-risk nicotine products are now available for those who are unable or
unwilling to quit: vaping, heated tobacco products, snus, and nicotine pouches. However,
Australia’s resistance to adopting these harm reduction measures has led to a burgeoning black
market for illicit nicotine products, characterised by increasing violence similar to that seen in
illicit drug markets. There have been over 110 firebombings of tobacconist shops, three public
execution-style shootings, three stabbings of young people purchasing vapes, and rampant
extortion – all symptoms of a failing policy.
Australia’s fierce opposition to vaping mirrors its historical resistance to harm reduction
initiatives for other psychoactive drugs. Once a global leader in harm reduction, Australia has
now become an international outlier, its quasi-prohibition of vaping undermining its broader
drug harm reduction efforts. To rectify this, Australia should aim to become smoke-free as soon
as possible, while actively encouraging smokers to switch to one of the four reduced-risk
nicotine options.
Reducing smoking among adults must take precedence over curbing experimental youth vaping.
Unfortunately, the government has formulated its current tobacco control policy without
consulting people who smoke or vape, disregarding the principle of ‘nothing about us without
us.’ Effective harm reduction requires a commitment to scientific evidence and the protection
of human rights. Yet, Australian authorities have repeatedly misrepresented or ignored scientific
findings while undermining smokers’ rights to improve their health by switching to lower-risk
nicotine options.
Like other drug users, most smokers will transition to safer alternatives if these are accessible,
affordable, and appealing. Some tobacco companies are also pivoting towards these lower-risk
products, with investors showing a preference for companies that transition more rapidly. In
Australia, vaping should be treated as an adult consumer product, available from licensed, agerestricted
premises, and easier to purchase than deadly cigarettes.
Harm Reduction Australia is increasing its emphasis on tobacco harm reduction and looks
forward to other Australian harm reduction and drug law reform organisations also increasing
their support for this important issue.
Dr Alex Wodak AM Dr James Martin SFHEA
Tobacco Harm Reduction Advisors
Harm Reduction Australia