According to promising recent statistics from the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute
(SAHMRI), vape use is dropping significantly in South Australia among a range of different age groups. These results come as a result of Australia’s world-leading vaping laws, which, so far, have proved effective in decreasing vape use around the country.
| Vaping rates by age | 2023 | 2024 | Difference |
| 15-29 | 15.1% | 10.8% | – 4.3 or 28% |
| 30-59 | 6.7% | 3.6% | – 3.1 or 46% |
| 15+ | 6.7% | 4.3% | – 2.4 or 36% |
The SAHMRI findings show that among people aged 15-29, vape use has dropped by around a third, with 2024 stats indicating that 10.8% of this age group vaped compared to compared to 15.1% in 2023.
This data is particularly encouraging, as it reflects broader vaping trends among young people in South Australia, where suspensions related to vaping in schools have also dropped significantly.
In Term 1 of 2024, there were 186 suspensions compared to 388 in the same term the previous year—a reduction of 50%. This decline continued through the second and third terms of 2024.
The trend is further supported by the Cancer Council’s Generation Vape study, which shows that fewer young people are vaping. The study, which tracks vaping behaviours among Australians aged 14 to 17, found that 85% of young people in this age group had never vaped. Additionally, nearly 94% of young people reported that they had never smoked.
For people aged 30 to 59, the drop is even more substantial, with vaping rates halving from 6.7% in 2023 to 3.6% in 2024. Overall, vaping among people aged 15 and above has decreased by more than a third, from 6.7% to 4.3%.
South Australia has also implemented some of the toughest penalties in the country for selling illegal vapes and tobacco, with fines reaching up to $1.5 million. Just this week, SA became the first state in Australia to ban nicotine pouches, a decision designed to stop another form of nicotine addiction from taking hold.
Minister for Mental Health, Chris Picton, said “Vapes are full of highly-addictive nicotine and nasty chemicals. Parents have told me about the terrible effects of their children getting addicted, including problems sleeping, difficulty concentrating at school, and lack of appetite”.
Preventive Health SA Chief Executive, Marina Bowshall, noted that while the reduction in vaping rates is promising, more work remains to be done. “The uptake of vaping among young people is extremely concerning, and while it is pleasing to see rates have reduced, it is critical we remain proactive in addressing this issue,” she said.
As the debate over vaping continues, health officials are encouraging anyone who needs help quitting smoking or vaping to reach out to a health professional or contact the Quitline on 137848 (13QUIT).
For more information, click here.
More News
