The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has released data showing a major shift in the nation's nicotine consumption. Daily smoking rates have more than halved since 2001, and the proportion of Australians aged 14 and over who have never smoked has reached a record high of 68.7%.
For former daily smokers like 73-year-old Terry Fulton, who smoked up to 40 cigarettes a day for 50 years until a stroke in 2023 forced him to quit, the statistics reflect a broader societal shift. Mr. Fulton is part of a massive wave of Australians abandoning combustible tobacco over the last two decades.
Alongside the drop in smoking, the National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2025 shows that vaping rates have stalled. Daily e-cigarette use rose by just 0.1% since 2022. More notably, frequent vaping among young adults aged 18 to 24 halved, falling from 11.3% to 5.8% over the same period.
AIHW Acting Chief Executive Louise Gates noted that while experts feared casual vapers would transition into daily users, current data shows this progression has not materialized. However, she cautioned that these trends could still change.
As traditional smoking and vaping decline, health advocates are shifting their focus to new market threats, specifically illicit tobacco and oral nicotine pouches. One in three smokers now purchases black-market cigarettes, double the rate recorded in 2022.
Concurrently, the rise of nicotine pouches has sparked concern. Rachael Andersen, Director of Quit, warned that these products are marketed with false claims of improving "mental clarity" and "gym performance." In reality, they cause adverse health effects, including mouth lesions, nausea, and sore throats.
Additionally, the proportion of people using three or more nicotine products simultaneously has tripled since 2019 to 0.9% of the population. Health advocates worry this multi-product use will quietly worsen nicotine addiction among users. More detailed survey results, including data on alcohol and illicit drug use, will be published in August.
Vape Lifestyle & Advocacy Blogger
Chloe Evans, widely known as "CloudChaser Chloe," is a prominent voice in the global vaping community, celebrated for her vibrant personality and keen focus on the lifestyle aspects of vaping. Based in the creative hub of Portland, Oregon, Chloe's content blends fashion, art, and harm reduction, offering a fresh perspective on the vaping world. She aims to demystify vaping for adult consumers and challenge outdated perceptions, promoting a responsible and enjoyable experience.