When it comes to vapes without a prescription in community pharmacies…
We didn’t ask for it, we don’t want it.
Community Pharmacists are not tobacconists, and as health professionals, they want to see the end of kids vaping and black market vape sales.
Community pharmacists are trained in the safe and quality use of medicines. An important part of their role is to dispense medicines with a proven therapeutic benefit that are approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration and listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods.
There is very limited, to no evidence to support the use of vaping products for smoking cessation and nicotine dependence over the long term. Many pharmacists are understandably concerned at being expected to supply substances that will potentially cause long-term harms.
For those who choose to stock vaping products, insurance and liability risks may find them regretting their decision in the future.
We all want a solution to stop the vaping crisis, but this is not the right solution.
Share your concerns about vapes being sold in Pharmacies
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Vaping Statistics in Australia
The use of vapes tripled between 2019 and 2022–2023
people aged 14 and over have used an e-cigarette in their lifetime.
Vaping was most common among people aged
of people aged 18–24 have tried an e-cigarette in their lifetime
Vaping has tripled among
Use of e-cigarettes has increased, from 2.5% in 2019 to 7% in 2022–23
*Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)
Why we’re against vapes in community pharmacies without a script
Everyone wants to keep illegal vapes out of the hands of kids and teenagers, but pharmacists are being forced to stock vapes next to children’s Panadol, cold and flu medicine, and emergency contraception.
Here are just a few reasons why we’re against vapes in community pharmacies without a script.
- Creates a future public health crisis
- Exposes children to vaping products in a health care setting
- Not on the therapeutic goods list
- Opens up access for vapes to be used without a smoking cessation motivation
Community Pharmacists would prefer to have proper smoking cessation and vaping cessation consultations with the public using our pharmacological knowledge.
We didn’t ask for it, we don’t want it, and it’s not going to work.
Learn more about the dangers of vaping at Vaping – the facts
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Our own research has shown how dangerous vaping is, these are not innocuous curiosities – these are very well designed nicotine delivery devices, designed to get as many people addicted to nicotine as possible. I can only view these proposed changes as an illogical step backwards.
The sale of vapes outside pharmacies has been banned across Australia – here’s what you need to know
Read more...The new vaping reform bill… is unfortunately, unlikely to stem this supply: adults will be able to buy vapes through pharmacies without a GP prescription, which essentially opens a door for continued supply to young people.
The black market, which currently supplies 90% of Australia’s vaping products will continue to thrive and will continue to provide unregulated products to vapers of all ages, including teenagers
One vape is equivalent to 400 cigarettes. The fact that they are being targeted to children, with bright colours and sweet flavours, is frankly disgusting. The Government will not stand by and let the next generation become addicted to nicotine and vaping, while exposing our health system to further unnecessary burdens.
A Community Pharmacist is responsible for promoting good health benefits to their community. Selling vapes is not a health benefit to the community and goes against the pharmacist’s health care practice. We do not know what the side effects vaping will have in future generations. Don’t off load this on to the Community Pharmacists.
Submitted by Vicki
Sep 2024
What kind of health minister asks health professionals to hand out vapes without seeing a doctor? Does he even have a degree in a health field?
Submitted by Adam
Sep 2024
Vapes most definitely DO NOT belong in pharmacies. A ludicrous idea that must not be implemented. Sadly, pharmacies that do not stock vapes will be subjected to abuse by yet another group of addicts.
Submitted by Karen
Aug 2024
I don’t know why the Government put so much stress on the pharmacy. Don’t they think that they have enough to do to help people who are sick and provide medication? It is not a place for vapes to be sold!
Submitted by Donna
Aug 2024
Pharmacies are a place of health. Vapes have nothing to do with health and do not belong.
Submitted by David
Aug 2024
Pharmacies are to make us heal & help our health... not to kill us off! They'll be forced to sell cigarettes & guns next!
Submitted by Margaret
Aug 2024
Ridiculous waste of resources. Fancy forcing pharmacists who are trained to improve health outcomes to peddle vapes. Outrageous!
Submitted by Cate
Aug 2024
Leave vapes where they belong, at the tobacco shop. Selling vapes from the pharmacy gives people the idea vaping is safe when it is not! Tobacconist have the right to ask for ID, so whats the problem?
Submitted by Bridget
Aug 2024
Pharmacies are for providing medication and other therapeutic goods to help people return to good health. They are not supposed to be used to dispense products that will harm you.
Submitted by Rochelle
Aug 2024
I am concerned as this is forcing pharmacists to endorse habits which would harm someone’s health. I have always looked to pharmacist’s for health advice not ways to harm my health.
Submitted by Natalie
Aug 2024