Read articles from Oceania

February 27, 2024 by health.gov.au

Have you ever wondered what’s really in vapes? Find out how vapes work and some of the hundreds of toxic chemicals they can contain.

February 27, 2024 by sydney.edu.au

Flavoured nicotine pouches are being advertised to young people on TikTok and Instagram, with some videos claiming they help with quitting vaping. The tobacco industry, including companies like Philip Morris International and British American Tobacco, produces these pouches. Despite restrictions on vaping products, the industry continues to innovate to maintain revenue. The legality of nicotine pouches in Australia remains unclear, with concerns about their promotion to youth on social media platforms.

February 26, 2024 by miragenews.com

The rise of disposable vaspes poses dangers to young people despite recent regulations. Professor Peters highlights parallels between vaping's growth and the tobacco industry's tactics. The increasing availability of modern disposable vapes, posing high addiction risks, is concerning. Misconceptions about nicotine content in vapes add to the issue. Vaping's harmful effects align closely with smoking, with a noted rise in tobacco use among young vapers. Legislation changes in Australia aim to restrict vape availability, emphasizing their role as a cessation aid.

February 26, 2024 by theconversation.com

Nicotine pouches with attractive flavors are being endorsed to youngsters on social media platforms. Despite some videos being removed, influencers are promoting these pouches as a safe vaping alternative. The pouches, popular among youth, are discreet and come in various strengths and flavors. While not containing tobacco, they have nicotine and can be addictive. In Australia, these pouches are not legally sold due to strict tobacco regulations. Health risks include addiction and potential long-term effects. Authorities are seizing these products, as underage users may obtain them illegally.

February 23, 2024 by thecritic.co.uk

A Tasmania anti-smoking activist, Kathryn Barnsley, displayed a misleading anti-vaping banner, wrongly attributing oral cancer risks to vaping. The claim is based on a single case study of a young man with tongue cancer, with no evidence from scientific literature supporting a link to vaping. The banner displayed misinformation, amplifying scaremongering tactics. Such misleading information spreads easily and could hinder the understanding of the harm reduction potential of vaping.

February 20, 2024 by express.co.uk

Rishi Sunak's proposal for a single-use vape ban to curb youth vaping has drawn criticism due to the ineffectiveness of similar measures in Australia. The Australian black market for vapes has boomed despite bans, leading to safety concerns. Theo Foukkare highlights the failure of prohibition and advocates for regulated sales to adults. In response, Sunak emphasizes the need to protect children from addiction and health risks. Labour's consideration of a prescription-only policy for vapes, based on Australia's approach, raises concerns about straining the NHS with additional consultations.

February 19, 2024 by youtube.com

In this episode we explore the situation in Australia and the evolving situation in the United Kingdom. Draconian "regulations" or De Facto Ban? Language Warning. We let you hear from the people directly impacted.

February 19, 2024 by theguardian.com

A vaping lobby group funded by tobacco companies is running ads in Australian newspapers opposing vaping reforms. The campaign, Bust the Black Market, aims to regulate e-cigarettes like tobacco and alcohol. Health experts argue the group is misguiding the public by claiming the reforms will benefit criminals selling unregulated products. The Australian Taxpayers Alliance, behind the ads, has ties to tobacco companies and opposes strict regulation. Health Minister Mark Butler counters these claims, stating the need to prevent youth nicotine addiction. The government's plan includes bans on importation and sales without prescription to combat illegal markets.

February 16, 2024 by filtermag.org

Australia's stringent anti-vaping stance has resulted in a thriving illicit market for vaping products, echoing the failures of drug bans in the past. Over 90% of Australia's 1.7 million adult vapers have turned to the illicit market due to harsh restrictions that require a nicotine prescription to vape legally. The illicit market in Australia is estimated to import 120 million unregulated vapes from China annually, with products sold openly without consumer protections. The profitability of illegal vapes has led to an intensifying turf war among organized trafficking networks, resulting in acts of violence and exploitation of marginalized recruits.

February 14, 2024 by colinmendelsohn.com.au

DURING A WEEK-LONG VISIT TO AUSTRALIA, Action for Smokefree 2025 (ASH) has been engaging with Australian policymakers to develop a best-practice vaping regulatory framework. Smoking and vaping policies were very similar in Australia and New Zealand until 2020 when the four major political parties in New Zealand accepted vaping as an important tool to accelerate the decline in smoking rates. Since 2020, New Zealand has had a regulated vaping market that allowed a wide range of vapes to be sold as adult consumer products.