So is vape bad for you? Nicotine, after all, is the danger to heart health, while other substances generated by smoking contribute to lung disease, cancer, tooth decay, and the other ills. So, simply comparing vaping to smoking, vaping is obviously healthier — and insofar as vaping can help smokers stop smoking, vaping is a net positive for public health.
The sooner a smoker quits, the better. Obviously, though, complete, permanent smoking cessation — without substituting another nicotine delivery system — is the healthiest option. So is vaping good for public health? A very interesting divide occurs when we compare how the US has approached vaping, as opposed to how the UK has approached it.
As reported by the Guardian , the British public health authorities have almost unanimously embraced as an alternative to smoking, reasoning that the greater good to public health outweighs the potential and unsubstantiated dangers. While the Royal College of Physicians in the UK has declared vaping almost completely safe, and a definite improvement over smoking, the National Institute on Drug Abuse in the US focuses on the potential for harmful chemicals.
Meanwhile, while the FDA has dragged its feet on either further study or regulation, prompting conspiracy theories about the influence of Big Tobacco, UK citizens rate vaping their number one choice to stop smoking. Ironically, its seems as though the American anti-smoking movement of the last 40 years or so has been too successful. While smoking bans and public health announcements have drastically reduced the number of people who smoke, and made significant improvements in public health, smoking and nicotine have been so thoroughly stigmatized that even a healthier alternative — namely, vaping — is subject to the same stigma.
Unfortunately, as with other addictions, stigma and bias makes it harder for smokers to ask for help, or to help themselves. When people who have addictions are made to feel ashamed, they are more likely to become defensive and less likely to seek help. By offering the alternative of vaping, without the stigma, the US could potentially see a significant reduction in smoking. The consensus seems to be clear. The health risks of both, compared to never using, are too great to be worth it.
But if you smoke, you can successfully use vaping to quit smoking. Spring for a quality vape device. For one, the greater expense can actually have the effect of making you take your decision more seriously. Higher-quality devices also give users a more satisfying experience, closer to real smoking, which can help smokers give up the smoke. It is also likely that some types of vaporisers are better than others in protecting your health. Certainly, vaping has emerged as less of a trend and more of a consciously arrived-at-decision for the new school of cannabis consumers, and lifelong weed users who seek a cleaner high.
With both the health advantage, and the user experience, the vaporizer itself matters a lot. While a sub-par vaporizer will fall short in at least one category, the best vaporizers can deliver enhanced experiences with significantly reduced side effects to smoking.
That means both more bang for your buck, and a better, cleaner high. Join the debate on twitter VolteFaceHub. Spoiler alert: science has a happy ending for this story… Combustion, not the cannabis itself, is the culprit. However, e-cigarettes are not an FDA-approved quit aid, and there is no conclusive scientific evidence on the effectiveness of vaping for long-term smoking cessation. It should be noted that there are seven FDA-approved quit aids that are proven safe and can be effective when used as directed.
Vaping nicotine has not been thoroughly evaluated in scientific studies. For now, not enough data exists on the safety of e-cigarettes, how the health effects compare to traditional cigarettes, and if they are helpful for people trying to quit smoking.
This publication is available for your use and may be reproduced in its entirety without permission from NIDA. Department of Health and Human Services.
National Institutes of Health. Drug Topics. More Drug Topics. Quick Links. About NIDA. What are vaping devices? Government Regulation of E-cigarettes In , the FDA established a rule for e-cigarettes and their liquid solutions. Reports of Deaths Related to Vaping The Food and Drug Administration has alerted the public to thousands of reports of serious lung illnesses associated with vaping, including dozens of deaths. Points to Remember People vape with battery-operated devices used to inhale an aerosol, which can contain nicotine, marijuana, flavorings, and other chemicals.
In many e-cigarettes, puffing activates the battery-powered heating device, which vaporizes the liquid in the cartridge or reservoir. Vaping is popular among teens. Many downsides.
Few potential upsides. Here are just a few of the reasons why: Most e-cigarettes deliver nicotine, which is highly addictive and can harm the developing brains of teens, kids and fetuses in women who vape while pregnant.
Some types expose users to even more nicotine than traditional cigarettes. In addition to nicotine, e-cigarette vapor includes potentially harmful substances such as diacetyl a chemical linked to a serious lung disease , cancer-causing chemicals, volatile organic compounds VOCs , and heavy metals such as nickel, tin, and lead.
Users breathe in these toxic contaminants, and non-users nearby risk secondhand exposure. The liquid used in e-cigarettes can be dangerous, even apart from its intended use. Children and adults have been poisoned by swallowing, breathing or absorbing the liquid through their skin or eyes. E-cigarettes have been linked to thousands of cases of serious lung injury , some resulting in death.
While the exact cause is still not confirmed, the CDC recommends that people not use e-cigarettes. A threat to kids and young people.
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