By February 2020, reports of 68 deaths and more than 2,800 vaping-related hospitalizations due to lung illnesses have made it clear that vaping can be even more dangerous than smoking. 1,2 On June 23, 2022 the FDA ordered Juul to stop selling their e-cigarettes in the US, citing concerns about the company’s “insufficient and conflicting data” on toxicity. 3 Although the FDA did not express concerns about an immediate hazard, they were concerned about the longer term safety from the use of JUUL devices or pods, raising questions about whether the possible benefits of reducing smoking outweigh the risks from these products.
Is vaping a safe alternative to smoking?
Both smoking and vaping have side effects and risks. Scientists do not fully understand the long-term health effects of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) yet, but the science indicates that they are not a safe alternative to smoking.
Is vaping THC more harmful than smoking it?
According to a 2018 study that looked at infrequent cannabis smoking in adults, vaping THC produced stronger mind-altering effects than smoking a similar amount of weed.
What are the pros and cons of e-cigarettes and vaping?
Few potential upsides. E-cigarette promoters claim the devices can help people quit smoking. But much more evidence is needed to determine if they are an effective way to quit. Research suggests that users are more likely to continue smoking along with vaping, which is referred to as “dual use.”
Is it safe to use e-cigarettes instead of smoking?
Of course, for people who have not started smoking or vaping, the best path is to avoid nicotine products completely. “Big Tobacco has marketed e-cigarettes as less harmful alternatives,” Dr. Drummond says, “but less harmful does not mean safe. …
What is vaping in teens?
Vaping involves breathing in an aerosol that contains several chemicals, including nicotine and flavoring, through an e-cigarette or other device. A 2018 survey found that vaping is growing in popularity among teenagers.
What is the chemical in cannabis that produces a high?
THC is the chemical in cannabis that produces a high. According to a 2018 study. Trusted Source. that looked at infrequent cannabis smoking in adults, vaping THC produced stronger mind-altering effects than smoking a similar amount of weed.
How many people died from vaping in 2020?
Trusted Source. , by early 2020, there had been a total of 2,807 hospitalizations or deaths from vaping. However, the CDC also acknowledge that since the removal of vitamin E acetate from vaping products, along with other harmful ingredients, the number of symptoms that people experience from vaping has declined.
What parts of the body can cancer be found in?
can cause cancer in nearly any part of the body, including the lungs, kidneys, and stomach
Can you vape and smoke?
The AHA state similar information. They indicate that the studies on this subject are not comprehensive and that vaping to quit smoking may lead to dual use. Dual use occurs when someone vapes and smokes interchangeably.
Is vaping safer than smoking?
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, vaping may be slightly less harmful than smoking. They note that a person who smokes inhales about 7,000 chemicals, whereas vaping likely involves a lower number of chemicals.
Is vaping dangerous?
Vaping also delivers several dangerous chemicals, including diacetyl, cancer-causing chemicals, heavy metals, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Vaping may normalize smoking again as it becomes more popular. , by early 2020, there had been a total of 2,807 hospitalizations or deaths from vaping.
What are E-cigarettes?
E-cigarettes are battery-operated devices that were initially shaped like cigarettes, but now include vape mods, Juuls, and vape pens. Some look like flash drives or highlighter pens, making it easy for teens to hide them in plain sight. The brand-name products contain nicotine, an addictive drug that is naturally found in tobacco and that stimulates, causes stress during withdrawal, and then feels relaxing as continued exposure follows withdrawal. It is the nicotine in cigarettes that makes smoking so addictive, and the same is true for most vaping and juuling. These electronic products allow nicotine to be inhaled, and they work by heating a liquid cartridge containing nicotine, flavors, and other chemicals into a vapor. Because e-cigarettes heat a liquid instead of tobacco, what is released is considered smokeless.3
Is Vaping Safer than Smoking Traditional Cigarettes?
The key difference between traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes and related products is that the latter don’t contain tobacco. But, it isn’t just the tobacco in cigarettes that causes cancer and other serious diseases. Traditional cigarettes contain a laundry list of chemicals that are proven harmful, and e-cigarettes have some of these same chemicals.
What percentage of teens use vaping?
According to survey data collected between 2014 and 2017, 9% of middle and high schoolers reported that they were current vaping users. Vaping was most common among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders (18%), as well as American Indian and Alaskan Native teens (13%). About 10% of White and Hispanic teens vaped, and vaping was least common among Black (5%) and Asian teens (4%).18 The percentage of teens who reported vaping doubled between 2017 and 2019.19 In 2019, about 28% of highschoolers and 11% of middle schoolers reported e-cigarette use. Most teens who vaped reported that they used flavored products.20 Two 2020 surveys found that the percentage of students vaping decreased early in the year. A CDC study analyzing data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey, a study of over 14,000 students, found that about 20% of 9th-12th grade students and 5% of 6th-8th grade students reported that they used e-cigarettes in the last 30 days.21 A different survey conducted by researchers from the University of Michigan, funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, studied over 8,000 students in only the 10th and 12th grades, and found that 22% reported vaping in the last 30 days.22 Although these numbers are still high, and comparable to the statistics in 2018,17 they are notably lower than 2019. E-cigarette use may have dropped due to growing awareness of the dangers of these products, including media coverage of young men hospitalized with serious lung damage.22,23 The drop may also be due to raising the legal age for the purchase of tobacco products and the ban on flavored products.22,24
How do electronic cigarettes work?
These electronic products allow nicotine to be inhaled, and they work by heating a liquid cartridge containing nicotine, flavors, and other chemicals into a vapor. Because e-cigarettes heat a liquid instead of tobacco, what is released is considered smokeless.3.
What is the FDA's guide to e-cigarettes?
The Director of Communications at the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products has written this guide to help parents identify these hidden e-cigarettes. The FDA has also helped create this pamphlet for parents and teens to discuss the risks of vaping, and it provides resources for saying “no” and for quitting.
Why did the e-cigarette market drop?
E-cigarette use may have dropped due to growing awareness of the dangers of these products, including media coverage of young men hospitalized with serious lung damage. 22,23 The drop may also be due to raising the legal age for the purchase of tobacco products and the ban on flavored products.22,24.
What is the National Center for Health Research?
The National Center for Health Research is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research, education and advocacy organization that analyzes and explains the latest medical research and speaks out on policies and programs. We do not accept funding from pharmaceutical companies or medical device manufacturers.
What do tobacco companies want to do?
Tobacco companies want to hook a new generation on nicotine and smoking.
What does a battery operated device look like?
The battery-operated devices come in many forms and can look like conventional cigarettes, pens or even sleek tech gadgets. Users inhale and exhale a vapor-like aerosol. This way of taking in nicotine poses health risks to both users and non-users.
How old do you have to be to sell e-cigarettes?
Enforce the new federal law that raised the minimum age for sale of tobacco products from 18 to 21 years.
Why do young people use e-cigarettes?
Many young people say they’ve tried e-cigarettes in part because of the appealing flavors. More than 80% of teen users say their first e-cigarette product was flavored.
Is vaping safer than smoking?
The American Heart Association recommends proven methods to successfully quit smoking. Many people think vaping is less harmful than smoking. While it’s true that e-cigarette aerosol doesn’t include all the contaminants in tobacco smoke, it still isn’t safe. Here are just a few of the reasons why:
Is vaping bad for health?
E-cigarettes’ biggest threat to public health may be this: The increasing popularity of vaping may “re-normalize” smoking, which has declined for years. Reversing the hard-won gains in the global effort to curb smoking would be catastrophic. Smoking is still the leading preventable cause of death and is responsible for 480,000 American lives lost each year.
Is vaping harmful to you?
The American Heart Association recommends proven methods to successfully quit smoking. Many people think vaping is less harmful than smoking.
Smoking vs Vaping, is there a difference?
In recent years, e-cigarettes have become a very popular stop smoking aid in the UK. Also known as vapes or e-cigs, they’re far less harmful than cigarettes and can help you quit smoking for good.
Can you vape without nicotine or THC?
There are no FDA regulations at this time specifically outlining the contents of what’s in e-juice or liquid nicotine.Products that are labeled zero nicotine can have some degree of nicotine in them.Vaping, the act of vaporizing a liquid to inhale, is an increasingly popular alternative to cigarette smoking.
Tips and tricks for vaping to quit smoking
When you think of vaping you probably think of big clouds. Well don’t. Those generally come from low nicotine e-liquid and the large tank style device. They are not suited to people who are starting to quit smoking.
Many downsides. Few Potential upsides.
A Threat to Kids and Young people.
- Tobacco companies want to hook a new generation on nicotine and smoking. 1. They spent more than $8.6 billion on aggressive marketing in 2017 alone. That’s more than $23 million each day and almost $1 million every hour! 2. Nearly 80% of middle and high school students — that’s 4 out of 5 kids — were exposed to e-cigarette advertising in 2016. 3. E-cigarettes are now the most co…
More Effort and Research Are Needed.
- The Surgeon General called e-cigarette use among young people a “public health concern.” The American Heart Association shares that view. That’s why we advocate for stronger regulations that: 1. Include e-cigarettes in smoke-free laws. 2. Regulate and tax e-cigarettes in the same way as all other tobacco products. 3. Remove all flavors, including menthol, which make these produ…
What’s The Bottom Line?
- Kids, young people and pregnant women should not use or be exposed to e-cigarettes.
- People trying to quit smoking or using tobacco products should try proven tobacco cessation therapies before considering using e-cigarettes, which have not been proven effective.
- People who do not currently smoke or use tobacco products should not use e-cigarettes.