Is Vaping Worse Than Smoking?

If you’re a smoker in Australia, you’ve probably asked yourself: Is vaping worse than smoking? With so much conflicting information out there, it can be hard to separate fact from fiction.

While vaping has been marketed as a less harmful alternative to smoking, there are still concerns about its long-term health effects. Many smokers switch to vaping in an effort to quit cigarettes, but some wonder if they’re simply replacing one harmful habit with another.

In this guide, we’ll break down the risks and benefits of vaping compared to smoking, what the science says, and what Australian laws mean for vapers.

Understanding the Difference Between Vaping and Smoking

Before comparing which is worse, it’s important to understand how vaping and smoking work.

How Smoking Works

• Cigarettes contain tobacco, which is burned and inhaled as smoke.
• The smoke releases thousands of chemicals, including tar, carbon monoxide, and carcinogens.
• These chemicals damage the lungs, heart, and blood vessels, leading to cancer, heart disease, and respiratory issues.

How Vaping Works

• Vaping devices heat e-liquid to create an aerosol (often called vapor).
• The e-liquid typically contains nicotine, propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, and flavorings.
• Since there’s no combustion, tar and carbon monoxide are not produced.

Is Vaping Safer Than Smoking?

The biggest reason people switch to vaping is the belief that it’s safer than smoking. But is that true?

What the Science Says

Several health organizations, including Public Health England, have stated that vaping is at least 95% less harmful than smoking. This is mainly because vaping eliminates the burning of tobacco, which is the main cause of smoking-related diseases.

However, the long-term effects of vaping are still being studied. Unlike cigarettes, which have been researched for decades, vaping is relatively new, and scientists are still examining its potential risks.

Key Differences Between Vaping and Smoking

What About the Health Risks of Vaping?

While vaping is considered less harmful than smoking, it is not risk-free. Some concerns include:

• Nicotine addiction: Many vapes contain high nicotine levels, which can be just as addictive as cigarettes.
• Lung irritation: Some ingredients in vape juice, like propylene glycol and flavorings, can irritate the lungs.
• Popcorn lung (bronchiolitis obliterans): Some e-liquids contain diacetyl, a chemical linked to severe lung disease, although this is less common in regulated products.
• Unknown long-term effects: Since vaping is relatively new, researchers are still studying its impact on heart and lung health.

Vaping vs. Smoking: Which One Is More Addictive?

Nicotine is the main addictive substance in both cigarettes and many vapes. However, vaping allows users to control their nicotine intake, which can make it easier to gradually reduce dependence.

Why Nicotine Addiction Matters

• Nicotine stimulates dopamine, the brain’s pleasure chemical, making quitting difficult.
• Cigarettes deliver nicotine rapidly through combustion, creating a stronger addiction.
• Vapes deliver nicotine in a smoother and slower manner, which can make it easier to reduce over time.

For smokers trying to quit, gradually lowering nicotine levels in a vape may be an effective strategy to break the addiction.

Does Vaping Help Smokers Quit?

One of the biggest debates in Australia is whether vaping should be promoted as a smoking cessation tool.

What the Research Shows

Studies have shown that vaping can be more effective than nicotine patches or gum for smokers trying to quit. A 2019 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that vaping was twice as effective as traditional nicotine replacement therapies in helping smokers quit.

Challenges for Australian Smokers

Unlike in the UK or New Zealand, where vaping is encouraged as a quitting aid, Australia has strict regulations on nicotine vapes.

• Nicotine vapes require a prescription from a doctor.
• Retail stores cannot legally sell nicotine-containing vapes.
• Illegal sales and black-market vapes pose safety risks, as some contain harmful chemicals.

Despite these barriers, many smokers in Australia still turn to vaping as an alternative to cigarettes.

What About Secondhand Vaping?

Secondhand smoke from cigarettes is extremely harmful, contributing to cancer, lung disease, and heart problems for non-smokers.

Vaping, on the other hand, produces an aerosol rather than smoke, and studies suggest that secondhand exposure is significantly less harmful. However, some concerns remain:

• Vaping still releases small amounts of nicotine and chemicals into the air.
• The long-term effects of secondhand vaping are still unknown.

For this reason, Australian laws restrict vaping in many public spaces, similar to smoking bans.

Is Vaping Cheaper Than Smoking?

For many smokers, cost is a major factor when choosing between smoking and vaping.

Cost of Smoking in Australia

Cigarette prices in Australia are among the highest in the world due to heavy taxation.

• A pack of cigarettes costs between $40 – $50.
• A pack-a-day smoker spends over $15,000 per year on cigarettes.

Cost of Vaping in Australia

While the initial cost of a vape device is higher, ongoing expenses are much lower.

• A basic vape starter kit costs around $50 – $100.
• A bottle of e-liquid lasts longer than a pack of cigarettes and costs around $30 – $50 per month.

For smokers switching to vaping, the savings can be significant over time.

Final Verdict: Is Vaping Worse Than Smoking?

The evidence suggests that vaping is less harmful than smoking, but it is not completely safe.

• If you’re a non-smoker, you should avoid vaping altogether.
• If you’re a smoker, vaping may be a better alternative to cigarettes, especially if you use it to quit nicotine altogether.
• If you want to quit smoking, vaping can be an effective harm reduction tool, but it should not become a lifelong habit.

Final Thoughts

For smokers in Australia, vaping may be a less harmful alternative to cigarettes, but it is not risk-free. The best option for long-term health is to quit both smoking and vaping entirely.

If you’re looking to quit, consider:

• Talking to a doctor about prescription nicotine vapes.
• Using government-approved quit programs like Quitline (13 78 48).
• Gradually reducing nicotine levels in your vape to wean off addiction.

Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health. Whether you choose to vape as a stepping stone or quit cold turkey, taking the first step toward a smoke-free life is what truly matters.