COOL DANGER

 

NOT SO COOL: Vaping is as much a health hazard as conventional smoking

The brawl between one of America’s most popular e-cigarette companies and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has sparked a conversation online on the underlying health issues that vaping may cause to smokers.

Vaping is a 'cool' form of smoking but it may have adverse effects on people who use it. Unfortunately, it is being sold as a safe form of smoking.

The spokesperson of Anti-Tobacco Network Tefo Senwelo notes that e-cigarettes are equally harmful as conventional cigarettes and are leading to a surge in smoking tobacco. The liquids used contain nicotine which is an addictive and toxic chemical substance.

Senwelo explained that by extension, e-cigarettes have the potential to cause respiratory diseases. The chemicals in the liquids used cause inflammation and are linked to high chances of causing a stroke.

Senwelo highlighted that in efforts to eliminate vaping and e-cigarettes in 2021, the Tobacco Bill on Conventional Tobacco was finally passed into law since Botswana signed and ratified the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2005.

However, it did not take into consideration vape products. Senwelo reiterated that one of the laws that the tobacco smoking law encompasses is the ban on public smoking, which also includes vaping and hubbly-bubbly.

“We interact with youth in the University of Botswana community who feel their health has been altered by the use of vaping. One had communicated that they experience shortness of breath,” Senwelo said.

He added that Anti Tobacco Network has come across people who have been affected by vaping. Senwelo added that both vaping and regular cigarette products contain nicotine which is an addictive substance. Most people smoke vape to look cool.

“The tobacco industry’s key objective is to make a profit and they are always inventing new products,” Senwelo said.

Senwelo said that the notion that e-cigarettes are harmless is false because, in western countries, e-cigarettes have been banned.

In some countries, there are laws regulating e-cigarettes, and the tobacco industry is finding a new market for these novel products in Africa.