Though e-cigarettes have been introduced to the United States in 2006, there has been a consistent increase in e-cigarette use over the past few years. Vaping is perceived as a safer alternative to tobacco because e-cigs give you nicotine without the harmful combustible chemicals in tobacco products (plus, vape juice is available in literally any flavor you want, unlike most tobacco products). With that being said, let's see what the research says about vaping: is it safe or is it just safer than tobacco?
Peter Hajek et. al (2014) reviewed available research on the use, content, and safety of vaping and vape juice. He explains that vape juice contains some toxins, but it does not have as much chemicals as tobacco products. In the preliminary research, secondhand vape smoke has been found to have an insignificant effect on humans (unlike cigarettes), and new evidence suggest that vaping could reverse harmful effects from tobacco.
As far as quitting smoking goes, researchers point out that the increase and popularity of vaping could actually increase smoking by re-normalizing it (i.e., changing the way we think about smoking). In other words, if you are trying to quit smoking but notice more and more people vaping, then your motivation to quit smoking is going to reduce (because vaping is the new smoking), but once again there is no scientific link between cigarette sales and vape use. Vaping is associated with smoking reduction (i.e., vaping may help you smoke less cigarettes), but there is little evidence that vaping will help stop smoking cigarettes.
So, what does all this scientific research stuff mean then? Basically, vaping--including secondhand vape smoke--is less likely to be harmful and addictive compared to cigarettes and tobacco, based on the chemical content in tobacco versus vape juice. If you are trying to stop smoking cigarettes, ask yourself: "Why do I want to quit smoking?" There is no doubt that vaping could help you reduce (and possibly quit) your tobacco habits. However, at the end of the day, both cigarettes and vaping contain nicotine (unless you get vape juice with no nicotine in it) and toxic chemicals. In other words, vapes are just safer cigarettes. Yes, vaping is safer than smoking. However, researchers explain that it will take decades to fully understand whether or not vaping (i.e., e-cigs) has any long-term negative or positive effects.
What's your thought on the research? Are you trying to quit smoking and thinking of switching to a vape? Did this article change your view on vaping? Let me know in the comments below!
