“What if I switch to vaping and become as dependent as I was on cigarettes?”
Sometimes I hear some smokers hesitate about this, then decide to continue smoking instead of switching to vaping. This is also a new topic that many vapers rarely discuss. As someone who used to smoke 2 packs / day for a few years, then switched to vaping to quit smoking when his wife gave birth, I think I am the right person to make a summary article for everyone to refer to!
First of all, why do people become addicted to cigarettes? Research shows that the reason why smoking is so difficult to quit is because of the way it delivers nicotine. According to research by Dr Colin Mendelsohn - Founding President of the Australian Tobacco Harm Reduction Association (ATHRA) and a member of the committee that developed the national RACGP smoking cessation guidelines - smoking directly will deliver a large amount of nicotine into the body very quickly. Therefore, continuously smoking cigarettes over a period of time will create a need. You will constantly need to replenish nicotine and it is very difficult to stop smoking immediately.
This is the difference between cigarettes and e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes work by heating the solution (rather than directly burning the tobacco fibers). Therefore, vapes will release nicotine at a lower and slower dose. Switching from cigarettes to vapes has been proven to help users gradually get used to moderate doses of nicotine, reducing their dependence on nicotine or cigarettes. In many countries such as the UK, the US, New Zealand, ... vapes have been recognized as having the potential to reduce harm compared to cigarettes.
Also, I have to add, I don’t know who you heard it from, but I have never seen anyone who uses vape and becomes “dependent” like cigarettes. Many vapers I know can go for hours without vaping, for many reasons, such as the nature of their work not allowing it. They are still completely fine and focused on work, and when they get off work, they leisurely vape to relax. There is absolutely no such thing as “craving” vape like “craving” cigarettes.
I hope this article will help you guys feel more secure and understand vape better. You should consider switching to vape, for your own health. If anyone has any other concerns or questions, please comment so we can discuss them together!
