Vapes
Vapes are electronic devices designed to allow people to inhale nicotine in a vapour. Using a vape is known as vaping. Vapes are also available without nicotine.

Also called:

e-cigarettese-cigse-hookahe-liquidspuff barsvape pensvape podsvape sticks
Quick info
How the drug works varies from person to person

How you might feel
Dizzy, headache, nauseous or mildly stimulated, relaxed.
Read more about how it feels
Effects on your body
Increased blood pressure and heart rate, faster breathing.
Read more about effects on your body
How long it takes to work
Effects peak 5 – 10 minutes after your first puff.
Read more about how long it takes to work
How long the effects last
The effects last two to three hours after your last puff.
Read more about how long the effects last
Common risks
Nicotine makes the heart beat much faster. This can make you feel nauseous/sick the first time you use it. Nicotine is addictive and can be hard to stop using once you’ve started. Vaping is a lot less harmful than smoking but it doesn’t mean it’s harmless.
Read more about the risks
Mixing drugs
Mixing drugs is always risky but some mixtures are more dangerous than others.
Read more about mixing with other drugs
How it looks, tastes and smells
What does it look like?
Vapes work by heating a solution (e-liquid) that typically contains propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine, flavourings and nicotine. This creates a vapour which is inhaled.

Vapes come in different shapes and sizes including:

Vape bars – these are shaped like a highlighter pen and are usually disposable, but sometimes rechargeable and refillable with e-liquid capsules
Compact pod devices – these are shaped like a flash drive or pebble and can be disposable or rechargeable and refillable with e-liquid capsules
Vape pens – these devices contain a ‘tank’ that you can fill with an e-liquid of your choice with a replaceable coil and rechargeable battery
Cigalikes – these are designed to look like cigarettes and can be disposable or rechargeable. E-liquids come in different nicotine strengths ranging from 0 mg/ml to 20 mg/ml and come in different flavours.
There are also more sophisticated customisable devices with variable power, but these are used more by people who have been vaping for a long time.