Credit: CC0 Public Domain

There are a lot of misconceptions around nicotine vaping products (NVP) in Australia, according to a survey of 470 pharmacy customers in Brisbane, 37 per cent of whom believed NVPs are just as harmful as regular cigarettes.

Aussie researchers also found 76 per cent of respondents relied on family and friends for information, which could be leading to the spread of false information. Community pharmacies might be the best way to improve education and awareness, they suggest.

Nicotine vaping can be prescribed to help quit smoking in Australia, but as no product has progressed through the there is currently no commercial product available to be prescribed.

More information: Daniel A. Erku et al. Nicotine vaping product use, harm perception and policy support among pharmacy customers in Brisbane, Australia, Drug and Alcohol Review (2019). DOI: 10.1111/dar.12984

Journal information: Drug and Alcohol Review