There is limited research on vaping among adult men, including among specific groups. Most studies have specifically focused on adolescents and/or young adults. However, it remains important to conduct research with adult males, as current vaping rates have significantly increased among both young adult and middle-aged males in Australia in recent years (AIHW, 2024a).

Key findings and implications

• The proportion of current vapers (men who vaped at time of survey) has tripled from 4% (approximately 260,000 men) in 2020–21 to 13% (approximately 760,000 men) in 2022. This highlights the need for ongoing efforts to decrease vaping among Australian men.
• Vaping increases as age decreases and is 10 times more common among males aged 18–24 years (30%) than males aged 55–65 years (3%). Strategies aimed at reducing vaping in the community should continue to focus on younger men.
• Vaping does not appear to be associated with later mental ill-health (anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts and plans) in Australian adult males. However, further research, including over a longer time, is needed to establish whether this finding holds.
• Men with mental ill-health (moderate or severe depression, suicidal thoughts or suicidal plans) are 1.4 to 1.9 times more likely to engage in later vaping. Public health messages could focus on men with mental-ill health.