Latest News & Research

10 September
Important upcoming webinar:
26 September: Navigating Vaping Reforms (PSA).

See the Events page for more information.

29 August 2024
Quit Centre is excited to announce that a training module is now available on Supporting Smoking Cessation in Pregnancy and Breastfeeding. With input from midwives and other maternity care experts, Quit has developed online training for health professionals to support the development of knowledge and skills to confidently provide smoking cessation care to pregnant women who smoke. Endorsed by the Australian College of Midwives as a CPD activity. 

Clinical guidelines for Smoking Cessation in Pregnancy and Breastfeeding are also available – with versions for both general practice and health services. 

3 July 2024
Following the commencement of the Therapeutic Goods and Other Legislation Amendment (Vaping Reforms) Act 2024 on 1 July 2024:

• non-pharmacy retailers such as tobacconists, vape shops and convenience stores cannot sell any type of vape

• therapeutic vapes that meet TGA requirements will continue to be available from pharmacies where clinically appropriate

• anyone involved in transporting, storing or handling vapes must comply with strict requirements 

• the advertising or promotion of vapes is prohibited, except where specifically authorised

• importers and sponsors continue to be required to hold an import licence and permit from the Office of Drug Control and meet relevant product standards

The online system is the only way to use the Special Access Scheme (SAS) and Authorised Prescriber (AP) pathways.

• SAS and AP Online System information from the TGA

• Video demonstration on using the SAS and AP Prescriber Portal

• Video demonstration on the SAS and AP Submission Validation Tool

For further information about the reforms visit the TGA Vaping Hub.

9 September 2024
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) provisional guidance updates on smoking and vaping cessation support related to Australia’s vaping regulation, includes a section on vaping cessation:

Currently there is a lack of research on interventions specifically targeting vaping cessation. In the absence of evidence specific to vaping, strategies shown to be effective for smoking cessation – behavioural support and pharmacotherapy - may be considered to support vaping cessation. There are specific challenges to treating vaping addiction in youth, particularly for those who are quite young, and dual users for which there is even less evidence currently available.

Where clinically appropriate, a patient may be eligible for PBS subsidised nicotine replacement therapies provided they are nicotine dependent from the inhalation of any nicotine containing product.

In Victoria, the number of new clients contacting Quitline for support with stopping vaping is increasing. Clients often describe unexpected levels of addiction to vaping and difficulties with reducing and stopping vaping. Some clients calling Quitline indicate they are using vapes to stop smoking, while many younger people using vapes have never previously smoked and are experiencing nicotine addiction for the first time. There are also clients contacting Quitline who are smoking and vaping at the same time (dual users) with some trying to quit both smoking and vaping.

Quitline has counselling protocols to support people who are vaping to quit smoking and also supports people who want to stop vaping, including young people. Refer patients at: www.quitcentre.org.au/referral-form

Dr Andrew Pipe urges all clinicians to prioritise smoking cessation, arguing that provision of smoking cessation care is a “fundamental responsibility”, with clinicians playing an essential role.

In the publication titled Smoking cessation: health system challenges and opportunities Pipe, Evans and Papadakis highlight the significance of provision of smoking cessation care as a key intervention in primary care, using a tabulated comparison (the number needed to treat [NNT] to prevent one death) for some common primary care clinical interventions such as statins for primary prevention and antihypertensives for mild hypertension.

Australian clinical guidelines recommend that the combination of behavioural intervention with pharmacotherapy approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), if clinically appropriate, is the best way to help people who smoke to quit.

Behavioural intervention involves multiple sessions of tailored behavioural counselling delivered by professional smoking cessation counsellors. Drawing on evidence-based behaviour-change techniques and approaches, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and motivational interviewing (MI), the counselling helps motivate people to make a quit attempt and develop skills to manage withdrawal and adjust to life without smoking.  In Australia, Quitline’s free service is the most accessible provider. It’s quick and easy to refer you patient. Refer at www.quitcentre.org.au/referral-form. 

Adherence to smoking cessation pharmacotherapy improves the rate of successfully quitting, however an Australian survey found only 28.4% of people (including those who currently smoke and have previously smoked)  who used smoking cessation pharmacotherapy were adherent to these medications.  

Health professionals have a key role in supporting their patients pharmacotherapy use. Health professionals may facilitate adherence to pharmacotherapies by providing advice on correct use of the products, addressing and managing any adverse effects and also by discussing  the effectiveness of pharmacotherapy to enable realistic expectation-setting.

Access online training, including how to use pharmacotherapy to support smoking cessation in patients.

Tobacco in Australia: Facts & Issues is a regularly updated comprehensive online resource of the major issues in smoking and health in Australia, compiled by Cancer Council Victoria.

A complete Endnote library of all citations for all chapters and sections is available.

7 March 2022

Many Australians who smoke or vape would like to quit. Now more of them will be supported to successfully give up, thanks to a new virtual resource and training centre for primary health professionals. Read more

Download the PDF of the media release