Electronic cigarettes / vapes: Still not a safe way to light up

Electronic cigarettes, commonly referred to as vapes, have risen in popularity in recent years. Many people believe that e-cigarettes and vapes are a safer alternative to smoking cigarettes. Some individuals may even use them as a means to quit smoking tobacco cigarettes. However, are they really as safe as they seem?

The rise of e-cigarettes / vapes

E-cigarette companies were originally introduced in the United States around 2007. Originally E-cigarettes were seen as a treatment option and not necessarily a threat to young people. However, there has since been a boom in e-cigarette usage among adolescents and teenagers, leading to many new regulations and renewed concern about the addictiveness of these nicotine products.

There are many vape companies out there, including JUUL, ELFBAR, and the Puff Bar, just to name a few.

JUUL quickly became one of the most popular e-cigarettes in the market, in part because it contains 5 percent nicotine. One JUUL cartridge is roughly equal to one pack of cigarettes. Before JUUL was introduced, many e-cigarettes only contained roughly 1 percent to 2.4 percent. These vapes, which first seemed harmless, now contained a strong dose of nicotine. JUUL’s “USB drive” shape seemed harmless, and a surprising 63 percent of users were not aware that JUUL contains nicotine. There wasn’t much knowledge or education on these e-cigarettes while they proliferated rapidly among teenagers and young adults. The experimentation with JUUL among young adults ages 18-21 increased by 400% from the summer of 2017 to the fall of 2018. Concernedly, young users ages 15-17 increased usage over 8 times that.

Then the competitors arrives. JUUL had always been known for its tasty flavors that were appealing to, let’s say, people of all ages. Other vape brands played off of this as well, such as Puff Bar, which comes in various bright colors and fruity flavors from Apple to Blue Razz. This type of product approach is appealing to adolescent and teenage customers, as these vapes smell and taste fruity, similar to candy. Brands like the Puff Bar will advertise themselves as having “zero nicotine” due to synthetic nicotine, when compared to other brands that use tobacco-derived nicotine, but their synthetic nicotine still acts and addicts in the same way. Research shows e-liquids have different nicotine ratios, which may affect users’ exposure. The health risks of these variations are not well understood, raising concerns as well.

How do vapes work?

A vape works by heating a liquid solution known as e-liquid or vape juice to create an aerosol, which is then inhaled by the user. Some vapes come in all sorts of sizes, shapes, and colors, but for the most part they are lightweight and convenient to hold and store. Many, like JUULs, are designed to look innocuous.

Vapes provide an alternative to smoking by delivering nicotine and flavor without burning tobacco. However, it’s important to note that the long-term health effects of vaping are still being studied, and there are potential risks associated with vaping, particularly for non-smokers and young people.

Are vapes safe?

Electronic cigarettes / vapes have surged in popularity in recent years, particularly among young adults. However, the safety of these devices remains a topic of intense debate and ongoing research.

For certain demographics, such as young adults, adolescents, and pregnant women, vaping is far from harmless. Nicotine in any form is a highly addictive substance that can have detrimental effects on developing brains, potentially leading to long-term consequences on cognitive function and behavior. Furthermore, the presence of heavy metals like lead and volatile organic compounds, including cancer-causing chemicals, in some vape liquids raises serious concerns about the overall safety of these products. Many products come from overseas from countries like China and aren’t regulated in their manufacture or distribution.

Although there are arguments that vaping is a safer option than smoking regular cigarettes, there is little and often conflicting data to back up these claims. While it’s true that vaping eliminates many of the harmful chemicals produced by burning tobacco, it introduces its own set of risks. The long-term effects of inhaling vaporized chemicals into the lungs are not yet fully understood, raising concerns about potential future health complications. There is still ongoing research on the effects of vaping and there is research that indicates e-cigarettes that include nicotine are associated with increases in blood pressure and heart rate.

Since e-cigarettes are easily accessible, the convenience of the device makes it more likely for the user to take a “hit” and buy higher doses of nicotine to increase the hit of the substance.The fact that a user can use their vape anywhere at any time adds therefore makes it even more addictive.

Vaping vs Smoking?

Vaping and smoking have become two methods of consuming nicotine and other substances, each with its own set of advantages and drawbacks. While both involve inhaling a substance into the lungs, they differ in their mechanics, health implications, and social perceptions. Understanding the distinctions between vaping and smoking is crucial for individuals seeking to make informed decisions about their habits and health.

Smoking has widespread recognition of its detrimental health effects, including an increased risk of cancer, heart disease, and respiratory ailments. This has led to extensive public health campaigns aimed at reducing tobacco use, particularly secondhand smoke. For this reason and the strong smell of tobacco, smoking tobacco cigarettes is more likely to elict a negative reaction from others near you than vaping or electronic cigarettes. Vaping has emerged as a relatively modern alternative to traditional smoking, gaining popularity particularly among younger demographics.

The appeal of vaping, especially to younger demographics, raises concerns about nicotine addiction and its potential gateway effect to smoking conventional cigarettes. Research suggests that early exposure to nicotine, whether through vaping or smoking, can increase the likelihood of developing a dependence on nicotine and may lead to experimentation with traditional cigarettes. Nicotine addiction can have serious consequences for both physical and mental well-being, particularly when initiated at a young age. Addressing the appeal of vaping among the youth is crucial in curbing the potential long-term health consequences associated with tobacco use.

Will vapes help me quit smoking?

The effects of vaping versus smoking traditional cigarettes are commonly compared and debated. While vaping may be seen as a less harmful alternative, due to the absence of tobacco combustion, there are long-term effects from inhaling e-liquids as well. And in either case, quitting smoking is about reducing the addiction to nicotine, which both forms of cigarette have in abundance.

E-cigarettes aren’t officially approved by the FDA as an effective way to quit smoking. If someone is using an e-cigarette to lessen usage and completely quit tobacco products in total, then it is an effective method to get to a “less” harmful nicotine source. However, e-cigarettes still produce a number of dangerous chemicals including acetaldehyde, acrolein, and formaldehyde. These chemicals in turn can affect the lungs, immune system. Vapes are as addictive as cigarettes due to their nicotine content, so they can still make it just as challenging to quit smoking completely. In the end, switching from tobacco cigarettes to e-cigarettes is probably an overall improvement for your health, but it’s not really a path to quitting smoking – to do that, you need to wean off of the nicotine itself.

There are other alternatives such as counseling, FDA-approved medications, gums, and patches, that provide lower amounts of nicotine over time. Educating oneself and learning more about the psychological and physical effects that can result from nicotine are vital steps in trying to quit smoking. Consider these alternative methods and consulting a healthcare professional for personalized guidance to kick the nicotine habit and stop smoking for good.

Courtney Dang

23 Apr 2024, 6 min read