Nicotine And Cannabis Vaping On The Rise, According To Massey Survey

The usage of nicotine e-liquid vaping is rising, a Massey College examine has proven.

The college launched its third spherical of findings from its New Zealand Medication Tendencies Survey which confirmed that whereas using no-nicotine e-liquid had decreased, nicotine e-liquid vaping was on the rise and ranges of hashish vaping have been regular.

The web survey, carried out by the Medication Analysis Crew at Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuora – Massey College’s Social and Well being Outcomes Analysis and Analysis and the Whariki Analysis Centre, was accomplished by 13,026 New Zealanders from across the nation between August 2022 and February 2023.

It was one of many first research to analyze hashish vaping in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Senior Researcher at Massey College’s Social and Well being Outcomes Analysis and Analysis and the Whariki Analysis Centre Dr Marta Rychert stated, nicotine merchandise have been usually used each day, whereas hashish and no-nicotine vapes have been used much less ceaselessly.

Rychert stated whereas most individuals nonetheless accessed their hashish illegally, extra individuals have been reaching out to medical doctors for the medicinal product.

“Extra medicinal hashish customers requested their medical doctors for a prescription, and extra requests have been profitable,” Rychert stated.

“Roughly one in 10 medicinal hashish customers surveyed in 2023 had a prescription.

“This development could replicate rising GP familiarity with the Medicinal Hashish Scheme, an rising product provide and the opening of personal hashish clinics that specialize in hashish prescribing.”

Rychert stated boundaries for individuals attempting to achieve entry via the authorized scheme included stigma towards the product, perceptions of excessive worth, and that basic practitioners wouldn’t take into account prescribing.

And whereas individuals have been reaching out for authorized entry, the survey additionally confirmed there had been an increase in individuals looking for assist for drug and alcohol points, which included tobacco and hashish.

Rychert stated it could replicate extra optimistic social perceptions and openness about these issues.

Respondents have been additionally requested about hashish legislation reform.

Nearly all of respondents have been break up between wanting a lighter regulated market just like alcohol legal guidelines, and a extra strictly regulated market just like tobacco legal guidelines, Rychert stated.

“The survey respondents have greater stage of hashish and different drug use than the overall inhabitants and this could partly clarify their assist for reform.

“However these findings additionally illustrate the alternatives for cross-party settlement by way of reform.”

Those that supported the Labour and Inexperienced events have been highest amongst respondents who supported reform, however assist for persevering with prohibition of the drug was additionally low amongst those that supported Nationwide and New Zealand First, the survey discovered.

Assist for decriminalisation was highest amongst those that supported New Zealand First, Te Pāti Māori and Nationwide, Rychert stated.