Our laws and social attitudes regarding smoking have changed dramatically in the past hundred years. Smoking was extremely popular in the early to mid-20th century, when tobacco advertising was as commonplace as Coca-Cola billboards and doctors actually recommended Camels to their patients. However, it was soon discovered that the leading tobacco corporations were using their influence to mislead the public about the dangers of smoking, and several medical reports also confirmed that tobacco was linked to cancer. As a result, cigarette use dropped from 42.4 percent of adults in 1965 to just 16.8 percent as of 2014. It’s no secret that tobacco causes cancer, and far less American teenagers are lighting up today than decades earlier. However, a new wave of smoking products is gaining momentum and filling in the niche that tobacco cigarettes once occupied. Vape pens and electronic cigarettes are touted as the safer alternative to cigarettes, and they’ve taken the country by storm.
There are two types of vape pens: the disposable electronic cigarettes that are sold in gas stations and convenience stores and the high tech “mods” that can be found in specialized vape shops. These mods, which get their name from the word “modified”, range from $40 to $80 and can be filled with a wide variety of vape flavors, including chocolate, bubblegum, piña colada, and apple pie. Both types have been widely marketed as a way to quit cigarettes, and many former smokers credit vaping with helping them to quit. Nonetheless, there is a rising number of vape smokers who have never tried cigarettes before, and in 2014, a study from the University of Michigan showed that “more teens use e-cigarettes than traditional, tobacco cigarettes or any other tobacco product–the first time a U.S. national study shows that teen use of e-cigarettes surpasses use of tobacco cigarettes.”
The negative effects of vaping have been widely disputed. Supporters of e-cigarettes and vape pens claim that they are a safer alternative to smoking. Many vape liquids used in these products are completely tobacco free, and because the contents are vaporized and not combusted, it eliminates over 3000 carcinogens found in regular cigarettes. This reduces the risk of developing cancer and lung-related diseases. It has also been argued that vaping helps to wean people off of cigarettes by giving them low doses of nicotine and filling the hole in their daily routine that was once occupied by cigarettes. Many smokers crave the inhalation of the smoke more than the actual contents of what they are smoking, so nicotine-free vapes are a safer alternative for those that can’t quit cold turkey. Opponents of the vaping movement claim that these products pose many risks for the younger population. There are a huge variety of vape flavors available for purchase, and many of these flavors, like bubblegum and chocolate, might attract younger users. Some vape fluids contain a chemical called diacetyl, which is commonly used in movie popcorn and is responsible for its buttery flavor. It is harmless when eaten, but when it is inhaled, diacetyl can cause a serious lung disease known as “popcorn lung”. Further concerns have been brought up about vape pens exploding due to faulty lithium-ion batteries. Several people have been hospitalized with severe burns and plenty of missing teeth after their vape mods suddenly exploded. Many people also worry that vaping is renormalizing smoking among teens, even while smoking cigarettes is becoming less and less socially acceptable.
There is no doubt that vaping has created a new generation of smokers. It has generated a culture of “vapers” that see it as a way of life rather than a habit. Grimm Green is a popular vaping blog that keeps viewers updated on all news regarding vaping laws and regulations around the world. It has also seen plenty of popularity on social media, where videos of people exhibiting smoke tricks like blowing smoke into an O shape garner millions of views. It even has its own magazine, called VAPE Magazine. This new culture is huge, and millions of people are joining the ever-growing vape community. While this new trend has generated tons of controversy, it looks like it’s here to stay, and it may very well completely replace conventional tobacco use in the near future.
