In the 19th century, cigarettes were first introduced to the world. They became popular soon after they were introduced, and the cigarette manufacturing industry became one of the US’s major industries. Cigarette companies advertised cigarettes as a “treat” that gave you a rich and glamorous life. Doctors recommended cigarettes to their patients, saying it relieved pain and made them healthy. As time passed and science developed, people started realizing the detrimental health effects of cigarettes. There were campaigns to prevent smoking, and governments created laws prohibiting cigarettes. However, as an alternative to cigarettes, vapes were introduced. Vapes are electronic cigarettes that contain nicotine, and are known to be healthier than smoking. Many experts say vapes include less toxic chemicals than cigarettes, causing fewer diseases. Therefore, due to this advertisement, more teenagers are vaping without any worry that it will be detrimental to their health. However, vaping isn’t as healthy as described in the media. In fact, it might be as unhealthy as regular cigarettes.
First of all, vaping is extremely addictive. Vapes and cigarettes both contain nicotine, which experts suggest to be as addictive as heroin or cocaine. When you vape, nicotine goes into your bloodstream. When you don’t vape, the nicotine level in your blood drops, causing a strong craving. For example, Chloe Harvatt, a 23-year-old vaper, says she vapes a full bar each day. She says that she has “never had an addiction so bad” and doesn’t go more than an hour without vaping. Nicotine addiction also has many negative impacts. Nicotine can cause many health issues including cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, impact on reproductive health, or even cancer. [1] Like this, vaping is very addictive as it contains nicotine, a very harmful chemical.
Another reason why vaping is as harmful as smoking is because it may have long term health effects. Currently, there isn’t enough research and information about the health effects of vaping. In the past, smoking was considered healthy, so many people regularly smoked cigarettes. As mentioned previously, doctors endorsed it. Now, after research, people have found out the detrimental health effects of cigarettes. This could be the same case for vape. Professor Ann McNeill, who specializes in tobacco addiction, says that vaping is "very unlikely to be risk-free" as the chemicals in vape will have some impact on the lungs. The risk of vaping is proven through the primary symptoms of vape. Many vape users have experienced symptoms such as shortness and chest pain. These symptoms may lead to severe lung injury called EVALI. As of 2020, more than 2800 vapers were hospitalized and 68 of them died due to EVALI. [2]
[2] CDC
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