The Ecstasy and Related Drugs Reporting System (EDRS) and the Illicit Drugs Reporting System (IDRS) are national drug monitoring systems intended to identify emerging trends of local and national concern in illicit drug use and markets. These systems form part of the broader Drug Trends program.

In 2021, regulations were introduced requiring individuals to obtain a prescription from a medical practitioner to legally access e-cigarettes containing nicotine. Data suggests these regulations have had little impact on use of non-prescribed e-cigarettes containing nicotine, however there has been little research that has explicitly examined engagement with the prescription model. 

This bulletin examines recent use of, and access to, prescribed e-cigarettes containing nicotine, difficulty accessing prescribed e-cigarettes and reasons why participants were unable to obtain a prescription among the 2022-2024 EDRS and IDRS samples.

Recommended citation

Chandrasena U, Peacock A, Sutherland R. Prescribed e-cigarette use and access among two samples in Australia who regularly use illicit drugs, 2022-2024. Drug Trends Bulletin Series. Sydney: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Sydney; 2025. Available from: https://doi.org/10.26190/unsworks/31005.

Funding and copyright

Drug Trends is supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care under the Drug and Alcohol Program.

©NDARC, UNSW SYDNEY 2025

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• Prescribed e-cigarette use and access among two samples in Australia who regularly use illicit drugs, 2022-2024