What is vaping?
Vaping has quickly turned into the new smoking, especially within young people. Vaping has been considered to be a “safer alternative to smoking” with a battery that heats into a vaporised liquid to taste a certain way. The questions must be asked, how safe is vaping?
Why people vape?
Vaping was originally made as the counter to smoking. Smoking has been notorious for its long-term health affects with lung cancer, heart disease and all organs being affected by smoking. Vaping was seen as the safe way for smokers to quiet cigarettes. What made vaping “safer” than smoking is it replaced the tar and the tobacco with a battery and liquid. It still contained Nicotine and had many distinct types of flavours and actual vapes.
The Flavours
The flavours of the vape is what mainly separates it from smoking and nicotine pouches. The flavours can vary from strawberry to watermelon ice. There are roughly about 20,000 different flavours. The Nicotine and other chemicals are in the flavour making it exceedingly difficult to stop vaping.
What are the effects of vaping?
Although vaping is new and the evidence to suggest that it will or will not have potential life changing risks are still unknown, it is very unlikely that vaping is not risk free. Some of the minor side effects include headaches, sore throat, dry mouth, throat and mouth irritation. Although they are minor, they still influence your health. The potential main and serious effects include. Lung disease, heart disease and cancer
Why so many young people have started vaping?
Vaping has quickly become the new smoking within young people. A big reason so many young people start vaping is due to the fact many of their friends could potentially be vaping as-well as it being a social aspect. Another big reason is the colours and flavours of the vape. Disposable vapes AKA “Elf Bars” are a one-time use vape that lets you buy a certain flavour and can be used straight from the packet. These easy to access, bright colours and various flavours make it easy to try and to continue buying. The Nicotine also plays a key factor as it is extremely difficult to stop once doing it
How to stop vaping?
In the last few months there has been a massive crackdown on selling disposable vapes, especially to young people. You must be 18 years old to purchase one, but this has not stopped young people getting their hands on them. Australia, France, and Ireland have all been looking to set out laws of completely banning the use and sale of single use/ disposable vapes. What does this mean? It means the only way you will be able to purchase a vape is by buying all the necessary equipment to use one and buy one in a retailed vape shop.
Interview
I decided to interview a young teenager in school who took up vaping recently. His name was Scott “I started vaping because most of my friends were doing it, and once I started I really didn’t wanna stop. They’re so easy to buy I’m only 16 and I can walk into any shop and get one no issue” I asked him if how easy it is to purchase vapes is an issue. “yeah, absolutely it takes 5 minutes for any age group to go in and get one and the fact the disposable vapes are ready to use straight out the packed makes it even worse. To stop young people from vaping I think the government needs to band them completely because its only gonna get worse like I never smoked a cigarette before and now I’m vaping”
Conclusion
Vaping is the new smoking, and it is yet to see if the affects are going be the same. The many flavours and nicotine make young people an east target for these devices.
Image by master1305 on Freepik
