Pharmacist Information Hub
Understanding the current vaping laws
Pharmacists have dispensed vaping products since late 2021. The new regulatory changes reaffirm pharmacists at the heart of smoking cessation and envisage that they will:
- Provide initial information about therapeutic vaping and when it may be appropriate for a patient.
- Act as a conduit for patients, depending on their needs, to:
- Organisations that can provide behavioural support alone; or
- Prescribers that can provide behavioural support and prescription medicines, including higher-concentration vapes.
- Ensure supply of S3 or S4 vapes as part of a cessation strategy.
S3
Total nicotine concentration of 20 mg/mL or less
S4
Total nicotine concentration of 50 mg/mL or less
What are the changes to the vaping laws?
Increases standards for prescribed vaping products
Establishes a list of TGA-notified products
Creates a class of pharmacist-only S3 (low concentration) vapes
Provides continued therapeutic access to S4 (higher-concentration) vapes under prescription
Ensures patients are directed to cessation support services
Back to basics: therapeutic vaping in person-centred care
Few patients will have considered vaping as a smoking cessation tool.
In alignment with the person-centred care1 approach, the new rules will see patients approaching pharmacists for evidence-based advice about therapeutic vaping and whether it may be appropriate for them.
Pharmacists are ideally positioned to assist those in your community who urgently need new strategies to tackle tobacco dependence – one of the foremost challenges in primary healthcare.
| How person-centred care applies to therapeutic vaping | |
|---|---|
| Work in partnership with your patient | Support patients to make informed healthcare decisions about the suitability of vaping for them |
| Provide advice to them | Provide patients with current evidence-based advice on therapeutic vaping's role in the cessation toolkit |
| Work in collaboration with a prescriber | Work in collaboration with prescribers to optimise the delivery of smoking cessation strategies to your patient |
Request a pharmacy pack
Liber:Onboard
Onboard your pharmacy with Liber’s medical liaison team today
Liber:Activate
Establish your local GPs as activated authorised prescribers
Important links
Therapeutic Goods Administration
Pharmaceutical Society of Australia
References
- PSA Professional Practice Standard 1: https://www.psa.org.au/practice-support-industry/pps/
© 2024 Liber Pharmaceuticals Ltd. All content
iNRT Healthcare is operated by Liber Pharmaceuticals for the purpose of furthering healthcare education regarding Nicotine Vaping Products (NVPs) within the Australian medical framework. Liber has no affiliation with the tobacco industry, their affiliates, or any organisations or individuals engaged in lobbying on their behalf.
This site is intended for use only by Australian-registered healthcare professionals with an interest in smoking cessation. It is not intended for use by consumers.
This content is gated for Australian healthcare professionals only
This website is a source of educational content for Australian-registered healthcare professionals only. You must not use the content for any other purpose. If you are a patient seeking medical advice please see your healthcare professional.
By accessing this website you are agreeing that you are an Australian-registered healthcare professional with a current AHPRA registration and are entitled to access this content. Your use of this content is also subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.