National rates triple but regional men are vaping less

Released on Friday, May 31, the Australian Institute of Family Studies report surveyed more than 6,000 men aged 18-65 years in 2022, as part of the Ten to Men study.

The survey found that 14 per cent of metropolitan men vaped, compared to 9 per cent in regional and rural areas.

Ten to Men program lead, Dr Sean Martin said higher rates of vaping in cities suggested access to e-cigarettes might be a key driver of use.

"The research shows that reducing access to e-cigarettes will be critical to supporting the health of Australian men," Dr Martin said.

Total vaping rates among Australian men more than tripled from 4 per cent in 2020-21 to 13 per cent in 2022.

Younger men were vaping at a 10 times higher rate than older men, as three out of ten 18-24 years reported vaping.

Of those vaping in 2022, 28 per cent reported vaping more than five times a day.

Senior research officer at AIFS Dr Constantine Gasser said men who vape were more likely to smoke and use illicit drugs later on than those who don't.

"Vapes were introduced to help people stop smoking - yet they have become a public health issue in their own right," he said.

The study found men who vape are 59 per cent more likely to engage in smoking and 33 per cent more likely to partake in illicit drug use.

"The reverse is also true, with men who engage in risky behaviours like illicit drug use, smoking, risky drinking and gambling, more likely to vape later," Dr Gasser said.

Men who reported moderate or severe depression in 2020-21 were 38 per cent more likely to be vapers in 2022, while men who had suicidal thoughts were 90 per cent more likely, the study found.

Quit director, Rachael Anderson said their service had support in place to help men on their quitting journey.

"We want to remind anyone battling vaping dependence that they are not alone," she said.

Minister for health and aged care, Mark Butler said the research supported the government's position on vape control.

"It's taken us over 40 years to get male smoking rates down, this is a major public health issue, and the government won't allow another generation of Australian men to be lured into addiction by Big Tobacco," he said.