I’m sure you’ve scrolled through social media and saw ads regarding vaping, demonstrating tricks, or various ways to quit. Vaping has become one of the biggest trends of the twenty-first century that has unfortunately led to many teens and young adults’ death despite taking the initiative to quit and find alternative methods. With tobacco companies being the leading cause of preventable disease, will vaping run its course, or will it find its way back to popularity?
The origins of Vaping
Vaping/Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes, vapes, or vapor products) are an alternative to tobacco cigarettes. Modern-day E-cigarettes were invented by Hon Lik, a Chinese pharmacist, back in 2003. Despite this, tobacco companies have been generating nicotine that dates back to the 1960s. As of 2018, 95% of e-cigarettes were made in China. Vaping is mot popular in China, Europe, and The United States. The history of vaping, to say the least, has a vast history dating as far back as the 1930s but didn’t become a prominent force in society until after 2010.
Why did Vaping become so popular?
That’s easy. Curiosity. Most young people have tried activities meant for adults (i.e., drinking and smoking), and as younger kids approach adulthood, it is only natural to want to partake in those activities. Vaping is also discreet and can be done anywhere, considering it is vaporized. It is cheaper than cigarettes; the mass amounts of flavors it comes in make you more hooked and want to try more. The overall aesthetic of vapes is what draws people in because they come in various shapes and sizes. Some look like USB ports, while others look like pens.
Although younger kids are trying to quit vaping, it could potentially cause issues in the long run. According to The CDC, Scientists are still learning about the long-term health effects of e-cigarettes due to the number of harsh chemicals. The CDC also states, “some e-cigarette flavorings may be safe to eat but not to inhale because the gut can process more substances than the lungs.” In January 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) set in motion a policy that prohibited the sale of e-cigarette cartridges in flavors other than tobacco or menthol. This was meant to decrease youth appeal, but flavored e-cigarettes and refillable cartridges can still be found in smoke/vape shops.
What is Truth.com?
Thetruth.com is a website that was founded based on fighting against smoking, vaping, and opioid use. The website uses its platform to call out big tobacco companies for getting teens addicted and working to fight the opioid epidemic once and for all. All of this is great…but the real question is, does it work? Surprisingly enough, because of The Truth, the rate of teen smoking has decreased dramatically to the lowest it has ever been in decades. The platform also has a collaborations section where people looking to quit can text “the first-ever text-to-quit vaping service — ’’ You can find their ads on television and social media platforms such as TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook… You name it.
So, has vaping faded out?
Although statistics show that the rate of premature smoking has decreased, many people still partake in vaping. I, along with researchers, do believe the numbers will decrease, but only time will tell.
If you or someone you know has been trying to quit vaping, you’re not alone. There are various resources, including truth.com that can be extremely beneficial.
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