A medic has issued a stark warning to vapers, claiming that they might be blissfully unaware of the actual substances they’re inhaling. This followed a shocking revelation in a viral video wherein a woman learnt what was really inside her vape pod.
Dr Karan Rajan pointed out: “If you think vaping is the best way to quit smoking, you’ve been lied to. A single vape pod can contain around 60mg of nicotine, depending on the brand and strength. For comparison, one cigarette can deliver around 2mg of nicotine to the body.”
“So, one vape pod is easily a pack of cigarettes or more. Because vaping is smoother and comes in fun flavours, people can puff away and chain vape through multiple pods. They’re unknowingly super dosing nicotine, charging their addiction and frying their dopamine pathways faster than you can say blue raspberry cloud.”
He continued by highlighting how enticing packaging and sweet flavours are snaring young people who have never before used nicotine into a cycle of vaping. Further adding to this concern, he suggested that evidence for vaping as an effective means to quit smoking completely is scarce, reports the Mirror.
The doctor added: “According to research, vaping is only moderately better than trying to quit smoking cold turkey. Vaping has a quit-smoking success rate of around 7-10%.”
It is only recommended for adult smokers to aid in quitting smoking and maintaining abstinence. As of August 2024, 5.6 million Brits admit that they vape.
Of that figure obtained by Action on Smoking and Health, more than half (53%) of current vapers are ex-smokers. That means there are just as many first-timers starting with vapes.
Dr Rajan compared how effective this method is to quit with others, including behavioural therapy (10-15% success). As well as nicotine replacement therapy (15-20% success) and a combination approach (25-30% success).
Vaping has “immediate” negative impacts on the body’s circulation
(Image: GETTY)
This year is going to be a significant year for vaping in the UK, with Government plans already in motion to ban disposable vapes from the summer. The new law applies to single-use vapes and aims to safeguard children and young people’s health, minimise environmental damage, and lessen the appeal of vapes to children.
The NHS website states that vaping is not entirely safe. It is only recommended for adult smokers to aid in quitting smoking and maintaining abstinence.
Vaping is not suitable for children and young people due to their developing lungs and brains being more susceptible to its effects. While nicotine vaping is considerably less harmful than smoking, it is not without risk. Hence, there’s a minimum age of sale for vaping products in the UK.