Smoking and vaping

Smoking is one of the largest causes of preventable death and disease in our community.

With vaping an emerging issue in recent years, particularly among young people – and with young people who vape five times more likely to start smoking – Cancer Council SA is committed to supporting South Australians to quit smoking and vaping, and advocating for law changes to reduce the impact of smoking and vaping in our community.

Two broken cigarettes on a dark wooden surface with scattered tobacco flakes.

Smoking and cancer risk

Tobacco smoke is made up of thousands of carcinogens, or chemicals that are known to cause cancer.

Person's hands breaking a cigarette in two, with a lit tip and ash, wearing a checkered shirt.

Quit smoking and vaping

Quitting smoking or vaping is one of the most important things you can do to reduce your risk of cancer and improve your health in general — but everybody’s journey is different.

Person in a checkered shirt breaks a cigarette in half, ash at the broken end.

Tackling Tobacco Program

We are supporting community services organisations to make a positive impact by helping them address smoking, Community services organisations have a strong relationship with the people they support and are often in a great position to support participants to quit smoking and vaping.

Close-up of a person holding a vape pen with smoke rising, brick wall in the background.

Vaping

Vapes (also known as e-cigarettes or electronic cigarettes) are harmful. Vapes can contain over 200 chemicals including some that cause cancer, with new research showing that vaping is likely to cause lung cancer and oral cancer.

No smoking beyond this point sign on a post in front of a brick building and trees.

Smoke and vape free environments

Smoke and vape free environments protect people from the harms of second-hand smoke, de-normalise smoking and vaping, and support people to quit. In South Australia, laws and regulations have been introduced over time to protect employees, children and the public from second-hand smoke and aerosols produced by cigarettes and vapes. No smoking areas are also no vaping areas.

Call 13 11 20 for information and support