Time for Change Survey and Report

25 Vaping as a harm reduction measure There is lower support for the availability of vaping or e-cigarettes as a harm reduction measure, with less than half (44.2%) indicating their support or strong support, and a significant number of respondents (24.7%) neither agreeing or disagreeing. Support was notably higher among people who use drugs (53.7%), and students and/or young people (53.0%), with less support from family members of people who use drugs (40.1%; see Figure 8). However, one respondent noted that: “Importation and use of vaping products (excluding disposable vapes) should continue to be allowed for users over 18 years of age as a primary harm reduction strategy. With the new laws commencing on 1-3-24, users will have to resort to recommencing tobacco use due to the restrictions around obtaining products for vaping. The return of vapers to nicotine use will only increase the burden of disease for smoking- related illnesses.” Another respondent spoke to concerns about vaping among children, and outlined that addressing the supply of unregulated vaping products is a government responsibility: “I think that nicotine vapes are one of the biggest problems affecting children. […] They have such a high concentration of nicotine [and] tobacco stores sell to young children and nobody is doing anything about it. Whilst new vape reforms are a great start, the tobacco stores are still selling vapes to children. It hasn't fixed the problem. The access is still there so our government needs to do more to shut down the supply network.” Figure 8. Support for the availability of e-cigarettes/vaping as a harm reduction measure Support varied significantly across demographic details: ● Individuals aged 56 and older showed significantly less support for vaping as a harm reduction measure compared to those aged 35 and younger and those aged 36 to 55. ● Female-identifying respondents showed significantly more support than male and gender-diverse people. ● Support was higher among Victorians, but lower among South Australians.