So, here’s the thing. Some studies do support that vaping to quit smoking can be successful.
It’s not all sunshine and rainbows as they make it out to be. The key is to consider the phrasing and look at the bigger picture. Vaping companies promote their products as a great way to overcome smoking. That said, they’re a business– they don’t want you to stop using their products! They simply want you to transition to spending money on their vapes instead of cigarettes.
When you transition from smoking to vaping, you’re only succeeding at replacing one unhealthy thing with another. While studies are looking at whether or not people quit smoking, they’re not looking at whether or not people are eliminating the real problem: nicotine. Vapes still contain nicotine, the addictive substance that makes it so hard to quit smoking in the first place.
Will people use vaping to quit smoking permanently, or are they just transitioning to an easier, more accessible route to the stimulant?
Chances are, they’re going to stick to vaping because it provides them with that nicotine buzz. And, it’s much more convenient and discreet, increasing the risk of becoming even more dependent on getting that next stimulant-fueled headrush. Some research shows that many people then combine vaping and smoking during the day to maintain an even steadier supply of nicotine to the body.
Another positive they tout is that vaping is healthier because it contains less chemicals than a cigarette. Listen, that’s like saying it's okay to drink a smaller bottle of poison because it's not as large as a gallon. You’ll still be inhaling chemicals into your body.
It makes sense why the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved any e-cigarette products to help people quit smoking. And why the CDC states, “There is no safe tobacco product. Use of any tobacco product, including e-cigarettes, carries a risk. Quitting the use of all tobacco products is the best way to protect your health.”