Smoking vs Vaping: The Classic Villain and the So-called Safer Alternative

Dear Prospective Medical Students, it's time to scrub in.

Let us dissect the controversial debate that is still so prevalent: Is smoking or vaping more detrimental to the body physically, mentally, and to the environment?

History

To begin, join me for a historical adventure through both. Smoking is the act of inhaling the smoke of burning plants for dopamine and adrenaline, which helps relieve stress and induce a feeling of pleasure and euphoria. The idea was first introduced as far back as the Aztecs, where they would smoke tobacco through a hollow reed or cane tube. When Christopher Columbus travelled across South America he discovered the tradition of smoking tobacco wrapped in corn husks or other leaves. These cigars were introduced to Spain in the 1600s, showing a sign of wealth, and eventually, their popularity spread as a common product for all. (Britannica). For as long as we know, cigarettes (or even the act of smoking) have been the poster child for health damage. It has been long associated with various lung diseases, heart diseases, cancers, and strokes. Warnings ‘not to smoke’ play before movies. Horrifying pictures of bloody, gory wounds are displayed on cigarette packets to deter people, at the sight of what could happen to them if they continued smoking. ‘Tobacco Duty is included in the price you pay for cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products’, atop the standard 20% VAT. (GOV.UK) This tax aims to reduce smokers by increasing the number of people who are no longer willing to pay or can’t afford to pay for them. It is a decent strategy to build up a negative media image to reduce new smokers, agree?

(ONS). This graph shows a gradual decline in smoking among different age groups in the UK. This proves that the negative media exposure to smoking and the taxes are effective in repelling smokers. However, we could also assume that the smoking rates have gone down due to another preferable alternative, ‘vaping’. Vapes are a much more recent invention. ‘The first documented reference to vapes was a patent for them in the 1930s, but they only hit the market as we know them today in the early 2000s.’ (Business Insider) They were mainly introduced to the UK in 2005 and have since been associated with several different health issues, despite being marketed as a cessation tool for smoking, and a “safer option”. In spite of all the health complications as a result of vaping, vaping rarely holds a negative image. The packaging is bright and colourful; fruity scents and flavourings are added, blowing ‘smoke rings’ and other vaping tricks had a massive spike in popularity during 2018-2020 in social media and TikTok, making vaping a trend. This shift successfully draws people towards vaping and away from smoking, but not only has it attracted smokers, but it has also caught the eye of the younger demographic. This, unfortunately, results in nicotine addiction from very young ages, serious health risks, and threatens the well-being of our future generations. Let’s explore how vaping, much like smoking, can pose just as dangerous a threat.

Health Impacts:

Physical Ruin

The Mental Meltdown

Indirect Impacts

Which is the better villain?

In the end, it is hard to say exactly which of the two is worse for our environment, health and growth, as they both release toxic, disastrous chemicals. However, I feel it is fair to say that vapes may recently be becoming the unexpected mass murderer. The new technological additions of nicotine level adjustments, the positive, bright, fun media portrayal, and mechanical malfunction possibilities push me to consider that smoking may not be the most vindictive villain roaming about.  With the unfortunate case of the mechanical failure previously mentioned, it appeared that the explosion projected into his head and had also started a fire in the bedroom where he was found. This unfortunate disaster helps demonstrate exactly the type of danger that comes with vaping, and we are allowing this weapon around mere children. This is a danger that doesn’t accompany the use of smoking cigarettes which is one of the main reasons why vapes should be considered more dangerous than vapes. However, it is important to realise that, although one may be more calamitous than the other, both vapes and cigarettes are undeniably harmful to the body and should be avoided entirely.