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Today, much discussion surrounds the potential dangers of vaping products, often accompanied by calls for stricter regulation. However, vaping is a demonstrably much safer alternative to traditional cigarettes. Categorizing every vaping product as a “tobacco” product often demonstrates a misunderstanding among policymakers.
38 Million Smokers – 38 Million Addictions
Currently, 38 million Americans are addicted to smoking traditional cigarettes, placing them at a significantly higher risk of developing cancer, heart disease, and lung disease. E-cigs offer a safer alternative.
Despite this, many major retailers in the USA have entirely banned the sale of e-cigarettes. Is there a valid reason for this?
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Bootleg Cannabis Cartridges
Indeed, there has been a significant rise in vaping-associated pulmonary injuries, with over 1,400 cases and 33 deaths. These severe health issues were caused by the use of contaminated cannabis products, specifically bootleg THC cartridges produced in illicit, homemade labs. Every reported illness and death was directly linked to THC and Vitamin E Acetate solutions, not standard e-liquid, and certainly not flavored e-liquids.
Will Bans Backfire?
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The reality is that if vapes are not readily available, nicotine cravings will not simply disappear; people will likely revert to smoking cigarettes. Others may turn to black market vaping products, which undoubtedly pose a greater danger than purchasing from a reputable vape shop.
Is Vaping Safer Than Smoking?
When compared to smoking tobacco, vaping is at least 95% safer.
The various chemicals and carcinogens present in tobacco smoke are known to cause lung cancer and cardiovascular disease. These severe health risks are significantly reduced or absent when using a vape.
Some incorrectly believe that nicotine itself causes these problems, but this is not the case.
Nicotine is an addictive substance found in tobacco and most vape e-liquids, and even in trace amounts in certain vegetables. While pure nicotine is toxic, the amount found in vapes is generally considered insignificant in terms of direct harm from inhalation.
The Overblown, Inaccurate Dangers of Vaping
Although some flawed studies have suggested “potential” dangers of vaping, proper testing under scientific standards consistently shows vapor to be at least 95% safer than tobacco smoke.
The issue of e-cigs exploding and causing serious burns is, however, a true concern.
Such incidents usually stem from human error, such as using incorrect chargers, mixing milliamp-hour rated batteries, or improper handling. As with all electronic devices, caution and proper care are paramount. Smoking carries inherent lethal risks with every use; responsible vaping does not.
Poor quality chargers can cause e-cigarette batteries to overheat. Therefore, always use the correct charger to prevent overheating and ensure your safety and that of your loved ones.
When purchasing an e-cigarette, we recommend investing in the best one you can afford. Always seek reviews and ask for advice. With vaping’s growing popularity, the opinions and experiences of real users can be invaluable.
Vaping Is Cheaper Than Smoking Tobacco
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From a cost perspective, vaping presents a significantly cheaper alternative to smoking tobacco.
Tobacco prices have soared in recent years, largely due to taxation aimed at deterring consumption. Vaping products, however, remain much more affordable, particularly e-liquid.
While there are running costs involved with using vapes, such as purchasing e-liquid and atomizer heads, these expenses are a mere fraction of those associated with smoking tobacco.
Vaping Used To Stop Smoking
The FDA has refused to approve vaping products as a smoking cessation aid, instead focusing on making these products harder to access. Ironically, former FDA head, Scott Gottlieb, has since expressed that smoking cessation should have been considered a valid reason for approval.
As previously stated, by restricting access, the FDA may inadvertently push consumers towards black market products that are unregulated and potentially dangerous.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the overarching goal should be to help people stop smoking entirely. While the FDA aims to dissuade teenagers from starting smoking or vaping, completely preventing all nicotine addiction may be an unrealistic goal.
Stopping people from smoking should be the primary objective, and vaping could be the answer. This could become a reality if policymakers and public health officials change their stance and accept vaping as a legitimate tool to aid this process. Unfortunately, significant financial incentives and political maneuvering often appear to prioritize preventing vaping. Governments across the US (state, local, and federal) have often been accused of prioritizing financial gain and political contributions over public health initiatives regarding vaping.
Perhaps America could take advice from the UK, where Public Health England actively advises smokers to choose vaping as a way to quit smoking altogether. One can only hope for such a shift.