Vaping is defined as “the action or practice of inhaling and exhaling vapor containing nicotine and flavoring produced by a device designed for this purpose.” “There is concern that young people may take up vaping as a less harmful alternative to smoking,” writes a post from an online forum for vaping enthusiasts. But how “less harmful” could this alternative be?

According to Medical News Today, both smoking and vaping have side effects and risks. Scientists do not fully understand the long-term health effects of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) or vaping yet, but the science behind it indicates they are indeed not a safe alternative to smoking. Vaping involves breathing in an aerosol that contains several chemicals, including nicotine and flavoring throughout various vape-like devices. Which all have an immense amount of effects on the human body. 

Vaping is growing tremendously in popularity amongst teenagers. But why? “Teens are attracted to the marketable technology and flavorings seen in vaping devices,” explains Dr. Nora D. Volkow, director of NIH’s National Institute on Drug Abuse. 

Teens and others must understand the possible effects of vaping on one’s overall health, the development of the teen brain, and the potential for addiction to these extremely unattractive actions.

Neither smoking nor vaping is beneficial to human health. Based on the available evidence science provides, smoking generally appears more harmful than vaping. However, this does not mean that vaping is safe. Secondhand smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals. Hundreds of these chemicals are toxic, and around 70 of them cause cancer. 

By early 2020, there had been around 2,800 hospitalizations or deaths, total with 68 of those confirmed deaths from vaping. Which one of you is gonna be next to raise those numbers?