Vaping

Vaping

Vaping is the use of an electronic device that heats a liquid turning it into an aerosol (vapour) which is then inhaled (breathed in). Vape devices are also known as e-cigarettes or vapes. Vaping liquids often contain chemicals, flavours and nicotine. They don't burn tobacco or produce tar or carbon monoxide. Read about the different vaping devices(external link).

Heated tobacco

Tobacco companies have developed other devices that heat, rather than burn tobacco. These are different to vaping devices which heat a liquid that may contain nicotine. Because these devices heat, rather than burn tobacco they are likely to produce fewer poisons than regular cigarette smoking. They're marketed as being less harmful than smoking. Compared with vaping products, there is relatively little research on the risks and benefits of many of these heated tobacco products. As of 1 October 2024 the only previously available product can no longer be sold legally in in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Take the vaping quiz(external link) and find out how much you know about vaping.

Video: A Spotlight on vaping series

In response to growing calls from concerned parents and educators, the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation New Zealand has launched this educational video series. 

(Asthma and Respiratory Foundation New Zealand, NZ, 2022)

Although more research is needed into the long-term effects, we do know that the risks of smoking are likely to be much greater than the risks of vaping BUT there are still risks to your health from vaping. That means it's better to switch from smoking to vaping, but if you don't smoke, don't start vaping. Read about how to best switch to vaping, to quit smoking(external link) and read the section below on the side effects of vaping.

Most vapes (or heated tobacco products) contain nicotine which is highly addictive. If you're a non-smoker but you start vaping you may end up with a great struggle to stop the addiction and you also may end up smoking.

Researchers have found that both low and high concentrations of nicotine in cigarette smoke and heated tobacco vapour are highly toxic to the cells in the lining of the lung. At higher concentrations of nicotine, e-cigarette vapour was also found to be toxic. 

Avoid vaping if you are pregnant

The vapour contains cytotoxic (harmful to cells) and carcinogenic (cancer-causing) chemicals that can harm unborn babies. The best thing for the health of you and your baby is to quit smoking and, if you don’t smoke, don’t vape while you're pregnant. If you're struggling to become tobacco free, there are safe treatments for use in pregnancy called nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). Read more about NRT.

Look for support and advice through your local stop smoking service, doctor, midwife or Quitline, and talk to others who have successfully quit. Find quit smoking support services.
 

Don't vape around children

Even though the nicotine in e-cigarettes poses little danger for adult smokers, it can be lethal (cause someone to die) if taken in large amounts. So, it’s important to keep e-cigarettes and e-liquids somewhere that children can’t reach. By not vaping around children, you can also avoid them from starting vaping. There are worrying numbers of children who were not previously smoking but have started vaping. Find out how to talk to your kids about vaping.

Vaping products manufactured from tobacco and heated tobacco products can be legally sold in Aotearoa New Zealand. However, under the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Vaping) Amendment Act 2020(external link) (the Amendment Act) most advertising of these products is banned and it's illegal to sell them to young people under 18 years of age.

Ministry of Health laws(external link) mean reusable vaping products must comply with maximum nicotine levels and have flavour names limited to 2 words. Since October 2024 all vaping devices have to have a removable battery and a child safety mechanism.

The Amendment Act strikes a balance between ensuring vaping products are available for smokers who want to switch to a less harmful alternative, and ensuring these products aren’t marketed or sold to young people.

The Amendment Act does this by regulating the safety of vaping products and placing controls on the marketing, advertising and promotion of vaping products. Read more about the vaping law and policy(external link).

There are a number of different ways to quit smoking:

• going cold turkey (just stopping completely)
• nicotine replacement therapies (NRT)
• other stop smoking medications
• vaping.

No vaping device has yet been approved as an official stop-smoking medicine and although vaping’s less harmful than smoking, it’s clear that it's not harmless. So you should plan to eventually quit vaping too, but only when you know you won’t go back to smoking. Overall, vaping may be almost twice as effective as NRTs in helping smokers quit. A recent study shows that vaping is almost twice as effective as NRTs in helping smokers quit. If you decide to use vaping to quit smoking follow the tips below:

• Plan to eventually quit vaping too but only when you know you won't go back to smoking.
• Stop smoking completely.
• Reduce the amount of nicotine in the vaping liquid over time.
• Keep getting behavioural support, such as through Quitline.

Do

• If you smoke, vaping may help you to quit.
• If you vape, stop smoking cigarettes completely. Don't vape and smoke as you add to the number of harmful chemicals you're exposed to.
• Reduce the amount of nicotine in the vaping liquid over time.
• Keep getting support with quitting, such as from Quitline(external link).
• Plan to eventually quit vaping too but, only when you know you won't go back to smoking.

Don't

• If you don't smoke, don't start vaping – the health risks of vaping are not fully known but there's growing evidence to show that these products are not harm free.
• If you vape, there's a definite risk you may become addicted to nicotine.
• If you're pregnant, don't vape (or smoke) – it may harm the developing foetus.
• If you vape, don't also smoke cigarettes.
• If you vape, don't see this as a long-term solution – keep reducing the amount of nicotine in the vaping liquid and aim to stop over time.

There are short and long term side effects to vaping. The most commonly reported side effects are throat/mouth irritation, headache, cough, and nausea. These usually go away once vaping has stopped.

Although the long term side effects associated with vaping are not yet fully known, there is growing evidence to show that these products are not harm free. Read more about the risks of vaping(external link).

Nicotine is addictive and it's in many vape products. Addiction to nicotine can make you feel irritable, restless and unable to concentrate, and most people experience cravings when they go without it. Having it takes away these symptoms, and this can keep you stuck in a cycle of addiction. Read more about nicotine and vaping(external link).

Bronchiolitis obliterans – more commonly referred to as 'popcorn lung' – is a scarring of the tiny air sacs in the lungs resulting in the thickening and narrowing of the airways. It's been found in people who have inhaled the chemical diacetyl from e-cigarette vapour. While the name 'popcorn lung' may not sound like a threat, it's a serious lung disease that causes coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath(external link), similar to the symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Even though we know that diacetyl causes popcorn lung, this chemical is found in many e-cigarette flavours. It's added to 'e-juice' liquid by some e-cigarette companies to complement flavourings such as vanilla, maple, coconut and more.

If you or someone you know has experienced an adverse reaction to a vaping product, you should report it to the New Zealand Pharmacovigilance Centre(external link) as soon as possible. This will help the Vaping Regulatory Authority monitor the safety of notifiable products on sale in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Whether you have moved to vaping to stop smoking or you were a non-smoker but started vaping, it's better for your long-term health to make a plan to stop vaping altogether. 

If you want to find out ways to cut back on, or quit, vaping you can talk to your healthcare provider or contact Quitline who can help you stop smoking or vaping – call 0800 778 778 or text 4006.

You may be able to just stop vaping (go cold turkey) but you may find that hard to do, and it may not be a good idea to just stop without a step down plan in place.

Things your plan might include

• Gradually cut back on the amount of nicotine in the vape/e-liquid you're using.
• Change to a mouth to lung vape if you're using a direct to lung vape.
• Gradually increase the time between vapes.
• Use a diary to monitor how much nicotine is in your vape and how often and when you're vaping. You can also keep track of how much money you're spending on vaping and how you're feeling. 
• Know what situations, places or people trigger your desire to vape and try to have an alternative plan to distract you or help you manage your triggers.
• Find a supportive whānau member or friend to talk to when you feel the urge to vape.

Clinical resources

Vaping carries much less health risks than smoking tobacco and there is some evidence that it may aid successful smoking cessation. There is limited evidence and no Medsafe‑approved eCigarette.

Vaping facts(external link) Te Hiringa Hauora & Ministry of Health, NZ, 2022
Smoke and mirrors – is vaping useful for smokers who cannot quit?(external link) BPAC, NZ, 2018
Vaping – smokefree environments and regulated products(external link) Ministry of Health, NZ, 2020
A guide to support rangatahi to quit vaping(external link) Asthma and Respiratory Foundation, NZ, 2023 Includes SMART goal planning

For other clinician resources on quitting smoking see treatments for quitting smoking.

Continuing professional development

Smoked out – banned heated tobacco devices still being sold(external link) One News, TVNZ, October 2024
Sohal SS, Eapen MS, Naidu VGM et al. IQOS exposure impairs human airway cell homeostasis – direct comparison with traditional cigarette and e-cigarette(external link) ERJ Open Res. 2019 Feb 11;5(1):00159–2018

Video: PHARMAC seminar –Smokefree 2025, 5 of 6. Beginners guide to eCigarettes, vaping (40 minutes)

(Pharmac, NZ, 2018)

Video: PHARMAC seminar – Smokefree 2025, 6 of 6. Hands on guide to vaping devices (25 minutes)

(Pharmac, NZ, 2018)

Video: Goodfellow Unit webinar – vaping (1 hour, 6 minutes)

(Goodfellow Unit, NZ, 2018)