AL Gor 25 November 2024
Following up on Pippa Starr’s blog, January 31, 2024, titled "Vaping Prohibition Set To Spark A Mental Health Crisis"
It’s clear that the policy changes sweeping across Australia are having a profound and lasting impact—not just on public health but on the mental well-being of thousands of people. These changes, while intended to protect against the potential harms of vaping, are having a serious unintended consequence: they’re contributing to a mental health crisis for many individuals who rely on vaping to manage their emotional and psychological well-being.
This issue strikes a deeply personal chord with me, as I’ve experienced firsthand how vaping has played a crucial role in my own mental health journey. For me—and for many others I know—vaping wasn’t just about quitting smoking; it became an essential tool in managing stress, anxiety, and the emotional weight that comes with long-term nicotine dependence. It helped me regain some control over my life, offering a healthier, more manageable alternative to the constant battle with cravings and the mental toll of smoking. So when I see policies pushing for an outright prohibition on vaping, it’s not just frustrating—it’s genuinely heartbreaking. It’s hard not to feel a deep sense of loss because, for people like me, vaping has been far more than a physical habit—it’s been a way to maintain mental well-being. The impact of these prohibitions goes far beyond health statistics; the emotional toll they impose on people who rely on vaping to feel better is very real, and it’s something that’s overlooked.
1. Why the Pharmacy Model is not Working and Will Not Work
When the Australian government first moved to regulate vaping, the original policy required nicotine e-liquids to be available only with a prescription. While the intent was to control access to vaping products, this model quickly proved to be impractical and ineffective for many.
The rules were relaxed, and now nicotine e-liquids (mint, menthol, and tobacco) and devices can be legally purchased without a prescription. However, the pharmacy model remains problematic for several reasons.
Firstly, despite the legal changes, many people still face significant barriers when trying to access vaping products through legitimate channels. Pharmacies are not stocked with enough variety, especially for those who need specific nicotine strengths or flavours (8) to manage their dependence effectively. Only one in ten pharmacies stocks any products. This lack of availability forces people to look elsewhere—sometimes resorting to the black market, which, I have addressed in point 7, poses both physical and psychological risks.
Additionally, the pharmacy model assumes that vaping is primarily a clinical issue to be managed by healthcare professionals. However, for many individuals, vaping is about more than just nicotine replacement; it’s about finding a manageable, less harmful alternative to smoking that also helps them manage stress, anxiety, and other mental health challenges. The rigid, clinical approach fails to account for the broader role vaping plays in people’s lives—particularly for those who use it as a tool for emotional well-being.
Moreover, the higher prices for nicotine products make vaping through pharmacies an expensive and burdensome option. For individuals with limited access to healthcare or those struggling financially, this model is not just inconvenient—it’s inaccessible.
The pharmacy model is tantamount to prohibition because it restricts access to vaping products in a way that undermines the ability of many people to use them as a legitimate, less harmful alternative to smoking. It doesn't allow people the autonomy to make their own decisions about how to manage their nicotine dependence in a way that works for them. The result is that people are often forced to turn to alternative methods, including the black market (7), which is both unsafe and mentally stressful.
The end result is that, for many, the pharmacy model simply isn’t working. It doesn’t meet the needs of people who rely on vaping as a critical tool for managing nicotine dependence and mental health. As a result, it pushes individuals toward unsafe alternatives while creating unnecessary barriers to a less harmful option. Since its implementation, only 3500 people have purchased from a pharmacy of >1.5 million vapers.
2. The Psychological Toll of Going Back to Cigarettes
I’ve been there. I know what it’s like to be trapped in the cycle of smoking and nicotine dependence and how overwhelming it can feel when you’re trying to break free. For me, vaping wasn’t just a casual choice—it was a lifeline. It allowed me to slowly reduce my nicotine intake, replacing a harmful, life-dominating habit with something that felt less damaging, something that gave me hope. But now, with vaping prohibitions, I’m left feeling terrified. What happens to people like me who rely on vaping to quit smoking? What if we’re forced to go back to traditional cigarettes? I’ve already seen it happen, and it’s painful.
The mental toll of returning to cigarettes is something I know all too well. It’s not just the physical cravings—it’s the emotional and psychological weight that comes with it. The guilt. The frustration. The overwhelming sense of failure. There’s nothing more demoralising than feeling like you’re moving backward after working so hard to get to a better place. That kind of setback doesn’t just trigger physical withdrawal—it triggers a whole wave of negative emotions: anxiety, depression, and self-doubt. In my case, it became so overwhelming that I ended up in a mental health crisis and was hospitalised. The weight of it all pushed me to a breaking point. For someone already battling to quit smoking, that mental toll is just another layer of struggle that no one should have to face.
3. The Loss of a Stress Relief Outlet
One of the things I found so beneficial about vaping was how it became a way for me to manage stress. It wasn’t just about the nicotine. It was the ritual—taking a break and just resetting. After a stressful day, I could relax and clear my head for a few minutes. I know I’m not alone in that. So many people I’ve spoken to have said the same thing: vaping gave them a way to take a moment for themselves when everything around them felt chaotic.
Due to the prohibitions or limited access, I know people like me will be left without that outlet. Where do we go from here? Without that familiar tool to manage stress, I’ve seen people start turning to traditional cigarettes again. That scares me. There’s no way to underestimate how important it is to have a healthier, safer way to manage anxiety or stress. Without it, people could feel even more anxious, overwhelmed, or even trapped in a cycle that’s harder to escape.
4. The Importance of Supportive Communities
For me, the vaping community wasn’t just a place to get advice on quitting smoking. It was a support system. I found encouragement, understanding, and camaraderie with people who were going through the same struggles. Whether it was an online forum or a small group of friends who vaped together, those spaces provided a sense of belonging—something I hadn’t realised how much I needed.
But now, I fear that a lot of these communities will vanish. And for some people, especially those who feel isolated or alone in their struggles, that loss of support could be devastating. For me, these communities weren’t just about talking about vaping; they were a lifeline—places where we could talk about our fears, our victories, our setbacks, and our mental health. Without those safe spaces, many people might feel like they’ve lost not just a habit but a vital emotional resource. And I know that’s a reality many people will face due to this prohibition.
5. The Psychological Impact of Losing Control
This is where I get really frustrated. When vaping became part of my life, I felt like I had finally regained some control over my health. Vaping wasn’t just a random habit; it was a choice I made after struggling for years to quit smoking. It was empowering to feel like I had a safer way to manage my dependence.
But now, due to vaping being extremely limited (prohibited), I’m left wondering how much control I really have. If that choice is taken away from me, it feels like a blow to my autonomy. Like so many others, I had worked hard to make a decision for my health, and suddenly, it felt like that decision was being erased. And for people who rely on vaping to help manage their dependence, losing that option can be incredibly disempowering, even triggering feelings of helplessness and frustration.
6. The Unintended Consequences for Youth
While I understand the concerns about youth vaping, I can’t help but feel like prohibiting vaping outright will only drive more young people to riskier behaviours. When something is restricted or made forbidden, it often just makes it more enticing. I know this because I’ve seen it happen with so many other things in life.
The truth is, many young people who vape aren’t just doing it for fun—they’re doing it because they’re dealing with real issues, like stress, anxiety, or social pressure. Due to vaping being limited, these young people could end up turning to more harmful substances like alcohol or traditional cigarettes to cope. And from a mental health perspective, that’s even worse. It’s not solving the problem; it’s just replacing one unhealthy coping mechanism with another. I’ve seen it happen, and it scares me.
7. The Black Market Risk
One of the most concerning aspects of prohibiting (limiting) vaping is it has caused the black market to flourish in Australia. When you make something popular illegal, you’re opening the door to underground, unregulated sales. This is already happening in places where vaping is restricted, and it’s only going to get worse if prohibitions become more widespread.
Due to the prohibitions, people will inevitably seek out unregulated products from the black market. These products are often manufactured without proper oversight, making them potentially dangerous and unsafe. Not only are these products physically risky, but buying from the black market comes with its own set of psychological stresses. The fear of getting caught, the lack of quality control, and the general uncertainty that comes with purchasing illegal products all contribute to increased anxiety, fear, and feelings of powerlessness for consumers.
8. The Role of Flavours: More Than Just Taste (Mint, Menthol and Tobacco)
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard people say that flavours were a big part of why they started vaping. It made the transition from smoking to vaping more enjoyable and, in many cases, less stressful. For people who have struggled with smoking addiction for years, the ability to enjoy the flavours made the whole experience feel more like a personal choice, not just a way to feed an addiction.
I know many will feel a sense of loss—not just of a habit, but of something that made the process of quitting feel morepositive. Flavours are a way to enjoy something while working toward better health. Without that, quitting could feel more like a punishment, and the frustration could trigger more stress and anxiety.
Conclusion: A Call for a More Balanced Approach
I think it’s time we started talking more seriously about the mental health consequences of banning vaping—consequences that could affect people like me, people who have relied on vaping to manage stress, quit smoking, and find a sense of community.
Instead of banning vaping outright or imposing overly restrictive regulations, we need a more thoughtful and balanced approach—one that addresses both the physical and mental health aspects. We need policies that protect public health while considering the real, human impact these laws could have. People who use vaping to manage their health and mental well-being deserve a solution that works for them, not just a policy that treats everyone the same.
At the end of the day, the goal should be to reduce harm—not just physically, but emotionally and mentally as well. We need a solution that takes into account the full picture and creates space for people to improve their health without stripping away their choices and support systems.
Comments