The Disaster That Australia’s Vape Prescription Model is Proving to be
With a lack of consultation with the pharmacy sector and the strong opposition from the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, this new iniative was set up for failure.
A recent nationwide survey of Australian pharmacies revealed that new regulations aimed at providing low-nicotine vapes (≤20mg/mL nicotine) without a prescription (as Schedule 3 medicines) have been largely ineffective. Conducted by local smoking cessation expert and physician Dr. Colin Mendelsohn, the survey was carried out in October 2024 across 305 pharmacies in both urban and rural areas. Sadly, the findings revealed that that 99% of pharmacies did not have low-nicotine vapes available for walk-in customers, with only 2% willing to order them upon request. Despite assurances from the Health Minister, these findings highlight the general unwillingness by pharmacies to collabrate in the new initiative.
Are we surprised? The answer is a resounding no. A shocking statement released by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia when the presciption model went into effect, had clearly indicated that most pharmacists were indignant and felt that selling vapes in their pharmacies was beneath their profession. While major pharmacy chains like TerryWhite Chemmart and Priceline have openly refused to stock them.
The new regulations are not supported by any of the stakeholders involved
The statement by the Pharmacy Guild expressed disdain for the decision to sell vapes in pharmacies, saying that pharmacists are healthcare professionals who are licensed to dispense medication with proven therapeutic benefits. The group added that vapes have not been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) based on safety or efficacy. The statement sadly dismissed substantial scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness of vaping for smoking cessation, and was another tragic example of the rife misinformation about vaping within the medical community in Australia.
Predicting the current messy state of affairs, at the time Dr. Colin Mendelsohn, had told Vaping Post that none of the parties given the authority to dispense vaping products are happy to do so and/or support the new regulations. Pharmacists are largely unwilling to stock vapes, and the limited, unappealing options (flavours like tobacco, mint, and menthol) are causing vapers to revert to smoking. Many are experiencing stress and anxiety due to the lack of appealing alternatives. While to add insult to injury, many local doctors are reluctant to prescribe vapes, despite being given the authority and responsability to do so.
“The current regulations are denying Australia’s smokers access to the most popular and most effective quitting aid. Some vapers are returning to smoking but most will continue to access unregulated products from the black market. The black market has fuelled increasing criminal activity and is the main cause of the increase in youth vaping.”Dr. Colin Mendelsohn, Smoking Cessation Expert
The regulations were introduced to offer adult smokers easier access to nicotine vapes, following the failure of the previous prescription-only model, which was rejected by both vapers and doctors. In 2023, only 7% of vapers had a prescription, fueling an increase in black market activity, including violent incidents such as firebombings and contract killings. However, highlighted Mendelsohn in a recent blog, with a lack of consultation with the pharmacy sector and the strong opposition from the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, this new iniative was set up for failure.
He added, that pharmacies are also prohibited from advertising that they stock nicotine vapes, making it difficult for consumers to find participating stores. Some states, like Tasmania, have banned the sale of Schedule 3 vaping products, with Western Australia likely to follow. Among the 35 vapers who participated in the survey, none were able to purchase their usual vaping products, with the available range limited to just a few options, including two models dominated by tobacco giant Phillip Morris. While flavours were restricted to tobacco, mint, and menthol, which did not appeal to most adult vapers accustomed to more variety.
The failure of both the prescription and pharmacy-only models has left Australia’s 1.7 million adult vapers largely unable to access legal vaping products. As a result, many may relapse into smoking, while others are forced to rely on the black market, which continues to thrive despite regulatory changes.
