A tool or danger for quitting smoking?

Vape, a new type of tobacco product that has emerged rapidly around the world in recent years, has attracted widespread attention and discussion with its unique form and claimed "harm reduction" effect. However, whether vape can really help quit smoking and its potential impact on human health has become a controversial topic.

Recently, a study from the University of California, San Diego, attempted to answer this question. The study evaluated the effectiveness of vaping in quitting smoking among thousands of quitters and smokers. However, The Lancet questioned the professionalism and relevance of the study, arguing that its evidence was insufficient and its methodology was weak. This doubt makes the effectiveness of vapes as a smoking cessation aid even more confusing.

John Britton, a professor at the University of Nottingham in the UK, pointed out that the data in the study may be confusing. He believes that the most addicted smokers often try vaping after failing to quit using nicotine replacement therapy or refusing to quit. This view suggests that vaping may not be the first choice for quitting smoking, but is used more as an alternative means.

In a report released in May 2021, the World Health Organization expressed uncertainty about the scientific evidence for vapes as a smoking cessation aid. The report points out that switching from traditional tobacco products to vape is not the same as quitting smoking, and vape is seen more as a harm-reduced alternative to traditional tobacco. This position suggests that the role of vaping in smoking cessation has not yet been clearly proven.

However, the dangers of vape cannot be ignored. Although vaping does not produce tar or carbon monoxide, the nicotine contained in its e-liquid can still be addictive and pose health risks. Not only can nicotine potentially cause cardiovascular disease, it also poses a threat to the developing brains of pregnant women, infants, and children and young adults. In addition, vape aerosols may also contain harmful ingredients such as carcinogenic chemicals and volatile organic compounds.

What’s more serious is that e-liquids from the illegal market often have problems such as excessive additives and random additions. These informal additives may cause serious health damage to the human body. For example, there have been many cases of severe lung damage and even death in the United States caused by vaping containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) oil and vitamin E acetate. These cases not only reveal the chaos in the vape market, but also highlight the potential threats to health caused by vape.

From the summary of information from all aspects, it can be seen that the role of vape in smoking cessation has not been clearly proven, but its potential health risks cannot be ignored. Therefore, we should be cautious about the use of vape. For those who have never smoked, they should stay away from the temptation of vaping. For those who already smoke, the best way to quit smoking is still through scientific methods and professional guidance, rather than relying on vape, an auxiliary tool that has not yet been fully proven. At the same time, the government and all sectors of society should also strengthen supervision and regulation of the vape market to ensure public health and safety.

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