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According to the CDC, cigarette smoking among adults in the U.S. has hit an all-time low. That’s obviously great news as it gets us one step closer, as a culture, to greatly reducing the risk of lung cancer and other health issues caused by smoking.
People are quitting for many reasons. First of all, smoking is expensive, and a pack of cigarettes a day can add up to $2000 a year. On top of that, there isn’t any shortage of warnings out there about the health risks of cigarettes, and more people are becoming aware of those risks and taking their health more seriously — if Americans addicted to tobacco products quit using them completely, it would save the country $16 billion in health care costs. However, those aren’t the only things that have caused a shift in the use of tobacco products — technology has also come into play, especially with young people.
A 2019 survey found that 27.5% of high school students used e-cigarettes, and it’s easy to make the connection that e-cigarettes seem to be drawing people (especially youths) away from traditional cigarettes. In fact, it’s been used as a marketing technique for e-cigarette companies like Juul.
But, just because e-cigarettes don’t contain tobacco doesn’t mean they’re a totally safe or healthy alternative. Let’s look at how the rise in popularity of e-cigs has created a world of pros and cons.
The Problem With Tobacco Products
Tobacco products, like cigarettes, can cause a world of potential health issues. While the biggest problem people tend to associate with cigarettes is lung cancer, smoking and tobacco can also cause:
- Heart disease
- COPD
- Increased risk of mouth, stomach, kidney, and liver cancers
- Increased risk of diabetes
- Stroke
- Premature aging of the skin
- Receding gums
- …and more.
With so many potential health risks, it’s no wonder warnings have been placed directly on cigarette cartons since the 1960s. Unfortunately, however, these warnings haven’t always worked. Even though tobacco use has declined, there are still about 34.2 million adults in the United States who smoke cigarettes on a regular basis.
Meanwhile, because e-cigarettes don’t contain tobacco, many people are opting to make the switch because they believe e-cigarettes are a better, healthier option. While it’s true that there appears to be a correlation between the popularity of e-cigs and the decline of traditional cigarettes, however, it’s not all as positive as e-cigarette marketing is making it seem.
E-Cigarettes Are Not Risk-Free
E-cigarettes don’t burn tobacco. In fact, they don’t “burn” anything, so there isn’t any smoke involved that could enter your lungs. On the surface that seems like a big positive, but most e-cigs do still contain nicotine, which is the main addictive substance also found in traditional cigarettes. A nicotine addiction can be dangerous on its own, as it’s often a gateway into more harmful, powerful drugs. Nearly 27 million Americans participate in illicit drug use, and nicotine can be the first thing that triggers their addictions.
But, an addiction to e-cigarettes or vape pens can’t be as bad as one to traditional cigarettes, right?
Unfortunately, research is beginning to show that electronic cigarettes may be just as harmful in different ways. Vape pens and their cartridges contain different chemicals, to start, and some of these ingredients can cause lung diseases. You may even breathe in small particles such as tin, nickel, and lead. According to a study performed by Harvard Medical School, about 200 e-cigarette users have developed severe lung diseases, and that number keeps climbing. Two deaths due to lung problems have also been linked to vaping.
Additionally, the nicotine in e-cigs like Juul can affect the brain cognition, development, and behavior of young people using them. There is still so much research left to be done on these products, but in the short time in which they’ve gained popularity, serious concerns have already started to come up.
Can Technology Trump Tobacco?
If the U.S. continues this trend of popularity when it comes to e-cigarettes, it does seem that technology will eventually kick big tobacco to the curb. That, in itself, is a good thing — but we seem to be replacing one unhealthy habit with another.
E-cigarettes can be dangerous and addictive, especially for young people. Addiction is the real problem here, and when generations are exposed to addictive chemicals/drugs at a young age, the more likely it will be for them to seek out other stronger addictive substances as they age. The best thing to do is to educate society and younger generations on the ins and outs of traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes, and the addictive tendencies of both. Technology allows us to do a lot of amazing things, but it has its faults — and considering the health problems starting to come to light thanks to e-cigs, it appears technology isn’t necessarily on our side this time.
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