Vaping: Belief vs. Reality

By Marco Fanik

Abstract

In recent years, millions of teens and young adults have abandoned traditional cigarettes and have utilized a smoking alternative. Known as e-cigarettes, or vaping, these battery-powered devices heat liquids filled with nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals into vapor, which users inhale. Vaping has become much more common to young men and women, as they believe it to be safer than conventional smoking. However, there is little evidence proving this to be true. Studies have shown that vaping can be just as detrimental as customary smoking.

An Overview of ENDS (E-Cigarettes)

There are various forms of E-Cigarettes in use, also known as Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS). As the name implies, ENDS release nicotine in the form of vapor, which one can inhale by taking a puff from it. Some may contain chemicals that can make the users feel “high”.

Vaping has been around for about a decade now and it’s expanding in popularity.

Teens and young adults choose to vape for various reasons. The primary purpose is to give up smoking regular cigarettes. For some, it is less expensive, can be used indoors, and has a favorable odor and taste. What seems to be common among the users is the belief that it is safer than traditional smoking. People think there are minimal dangers to vaping; therefore, it has been spreading like wildfire. This belief, that vaping is safe, is dangerous because users are damaging their body with every puff.

The Health Hazards of Vaping

There are various types of ENDS, the most popular being E-cigarettes, but they all have one thing in common: they contain nicotine and chemicals toxic to our bodies. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance, so the use of E-cigarettes can create a dependency, which can impair the body. For children and adolescents, nicotine exposure can lead to an addiction and long-lasting damage to the brain. Additionally, there is growing evidence that ENDS users who have never smoked are more likely to switch to conventional smoking later in their lives.

ENDS can increase the risk of heart disease and lung disorders. They also pose a threat for pregnant women, as they can damage a growing fetus. In addition, if the liquid nicotine leaks out of an E-cigarette, it can burn skin and can be poisonous if ingested. ENDS is more commonly associated with damage to the lungs, and is described by the CDC as “e-cigarette or vaping associated lung injury” (EVALI). The disease has been linked with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a chemical common in ENDS that gives people the “high” feeling. Although the number of EVALI cases have declined since September 2019, the continuous use of ENDS can still lead to the disease, which in turn can lead to death.

People may think that use of ENDS is much safer than cigarette use, but there is evidence to prove that both are equally as dangerous. Tobacco products and ENDS pose major health risks, so the safest approach is to avoiding using either of these substances. One may resort to smoking when depressed, to stop smoking, or just for a rush. But the use of an E-cigarette, whether it be a JUUL or a vape pen, will be just as harmful as a pack of cigarettes.

Sources

“E-Cigarettes.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization,

www.who.int/westernpacific/news/q-a-detail/e-cigarettes-how-risky-are-they.

“Outbreak of Lung Injury Associated with the Use of E-Cigarette, or Vaping, Products.” Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 25 Feb. 2020,

www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/severe-lung-disease.html.