An Australian psychologist has listed the worrying symptoms of e-cigarette addiction.
Minderoo Foundation researcher and psychologist Claire Wakefield appeared on Abbie Chatfield's Its A Lot podcast to discuss the e-cigarette epidemic and its harmful effects on the human body.
“The clues that I think are concerning are when you start thinking about it even though you don't want to think about it,” she told Abbie during the episode.
“You wake up in the morning and the first thing you think is, 'Where's my vape?' Or if you're scared, wondering where I'm going to get my next one.”
However, Ms Wakefield explained that the worst type of symptom is called “nic-sick”, which is another term for nicotine poisoning.
Minderoo Foundation researcher and psychologist Claire Wakefield appeared on Abbie Chatfield's Its A Lot podcast (pictured) to talk about the vaping epidemic and its harmful effects
“I noticed the acute nicotine poisoning known as ‘nic sick’ – where there is a lot of evidence,” she added. “This is essentially what happens when you consume too much nicotine at once.”
Ms Wakefield later shocked Chatfield when she recalled a young woman addicted to smoking who vomited a strawberry-like flavor from her vapor.
“She says she knew she had a problem when her vomit started tasting like e-cigarettes,” Ms Wakefield said, causing Chatfield to gasp in shock.
“Strawberry-flavored vomit because she drank so much vape.” If you search “vape burns” on Google, it’s not pretty.”
Ms Wakefield later shocked Chatfield when she recalled a young woman addicted to smoking who vomited a strawberry-like flavor from her vapor (pictured a stock image).
The symptoms left listeners horrified, with some revealing that the episode had touched the nerve to stop smoking again.
“Wow thanks, I literally quit on Sunday.” “This will motivate me,” one user wrote.
Australia has had strict vaping laws and regulations in place since January 1st.
Disposable vapes will no longer be allowed to be imported into Australia as the government moves to stop the sale of flavored devices in convenience stores.
This applies to disposable vaporizers, regardless of nicotine content or therapeutic claims.
The rules make it unlawful to import disposable vaporizers from January 1, even if those vapes were ordered before that date and have not yet arrived in Australia.
Health Minister Mark Butler only announced the measure on November 28, arguing it was necessary to prevent young people becoming addicted to nicotine.
“These reforms will protect Australians, particularly young people, from the harms of vaping and nicotine addiction,” he said.
The federal government has reached an agreement with state and territory health ministers, almost all of whom, with the exception of Tasmania, are Labor Party members.
The e-cigarette import ban will be implemented by regulation, meaning Mr Butler can issue an order, subject to the approval of Governor-General David Hurley, until Parliament passes a new law to enforce a permanent ban.
Disposable vapes will no longer be allowed to be imported into Australia as the government moves to stop the sale of flavored devices in convenience stores (pictured is a stock image).
This ban also coincides with a new special access system that allows doctors and nurses to prescribe e-cigarettes to nicotine addicts.
The import ban on non-therapeutic e-cigarettes comes into effect on March 1, meaning importers will need a customs license and permit to import therapeutic e-cigarettes, with flavors limited to mint, menthol and tobacco.
As of this date, convenience stores can continue to sell them as long as they do not contain nicotine and make no medical claims.
There are fears that younger people are turning to vaping as the popularity of cigarettes declines
Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released just before Christmas showed 14.4 per cent of adults had tried an e-cigarette or vape.
Daily smoking rates fell to 10.6 percent in 2022, halving from 22.4 percent in 2001 – with 58.3 percent of adults saying they had never smoked.
But there are fears that younger people are turning to vaping as cigarettes become more popular and tobacco can only be sold in drab olive green packaging with images of diseased body parts.