Bharat SainiLast Updated on December 19, 2014 by Bharat Saini
Vaping is an industry surrounded by media hype, both positive and negative. As such, it can be difficult to distinguish the facts from fiction when looking at the debate over electronic cigarettes. However, as an effective product that could help thousands of people in the UK to stop smoking tobacco, the hysteria from opponents is unduly influencing many people who could benefit from vaping.
For this reason, we’re here to address five vaping myths for anyone new to or interested in this rapidly growing trend.
1. ‘Vaping Acts as a Gateway to Smoking’
It’s very easy to inflate the facts in controversial debates, and this is certainly one aspect of e-cigarettes that has been taken far out of proportion. Several studies from Action on Smoking and Health and the Office of National Statistics have shown that number of non-smokers who use these devices is marginal. As the vast majority of users are current or ex-smokers choose these devices to help them give up, they aren’t seen as a gateway to smoking by the experts.
2. ‘E-Cigs are Dangerous Devices’
There have been several high profile incidents in the media where explosions or fires have been caused by e-cigs. However it’s important to understand that as a largely unregulated industry at present, vapers are able to obtain poor quality devices from overseas that lack appropriate safety features. To tackle this, users should purchase only premium electronic cigarettes from reputable e-cigarette retailers.
3. ‘Children are Vulnerable to Vaping’
Due to the lack of regulation on the market, many opponents claim it is much easier for those under 18 to obtain electronic cigarettes, making them vulnerable to these products. However studies show that whilst 8% of children aged 11-18 have ever tried an e-cig, this is closely linked to smoking behaviour. Amongst children who have never smoked, only 1% say they would try it soon.
4. ‘Vaping in Public is the Same as Smoking’ Electronic cigarettes do contain nicotine, however they don’t release smoke. Cutting out the harmful toxins of tobacco smoke, these devices only release a cloud of water vapour when used, making them safe to use around non-smokers in public.
5. ‘E-Cigarettes Contain Harmful Chemicals’
Many concerns have been raised over the content of e-liquids, however when bearing in mind that these products are targeted at smokers, they do not come close to the 4000 chemicals found in tobacco smoke. Of course, these devices should be used in moderation, however when used as a smoking cessation aid they are a much healthier alternative to smoking and therefore could save thousands of lives every year.
With any debate, it’s important to get your facts right in order to form an opinion on the matter. And when discussing the pros and cons of e-cigs, it should always be done in the context of their purpose – an alternative to tobacco. So for anyone thinking of quitting smoking, these devices are a safer, healthier and accessible way to make the switch, despite the myths surrounding them.
This article is written by Kelly Gilmour Grassam, a freelance copywriter from Yorkshire. You can follow her on Twitter at @KellygGrassam. This article has been written with helpful information from Prestige Vaping.
