Since they first appeared on the market, vape pens have been more and more well-liked, particularly among teenagers and young people. However, there are other myths regarding vaping that are spread. In fact, a lot of individuals think vape pens are secure items that merely produce a fruity-flavored vapor as a pleasant alternative to a typical cigarette’s unpleasantness.
Sadly, vape pens are not as secure as some people might think. They contain more than just vapors with a fruity flavor, and using them can lead to illnesses and injury. As of February 2020, there had been over 3,000 occurrences of EVALI (or e-cigarette or vaping device linked lung injury), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Because of this, it’s critical that users of Delta 8 vape pens learn the truth and comprehend the dangers.
How Do Vape Pens Work?
Vape pens are battery-operated devices that individuals use to inhale an aerosol that often contains nicotine, flavorings, and other substances. They were initially developed as an alternative to regular cigarettes.
These gadgets, also known as electronic cigarettes or nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), can resemble everything from a regular cigarette to commonplace objects like pens and USB memory sticks.
They all perform their functions much the same way, regardless of how they are created and seem. For instance, an atomizer heats a cartridge, reservoir, or pod that contains the liquid and then releases a vapor that contains nicotine, flavorings, and other substances. There are more than 460 distinct brands available on the market, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Five Vape Pen Myths
Vape pens were promoted as a risk-free alternative to smoking when they initially hit the market. However, health authorities are starting to realize that this might not be the case. Here is a summary of five frequently overlooked facts concerning vape pens.
Vape Pens Might Detonate
Vape pens have reportedly exploded, resulting in everything from burns to major injuries. In fact, users lost teeth or a portion of their jaw during the more severe explosions. Others sustained chemical burns and abrasions in the meanwhile.
It is difficult to estimate the frequency of vape pen explosions because the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products didn’t start recording explosions and fires until 2012.
Since then, 92 explosion cases have been recorded.3However, they admit that they are unable to tally the number of vape pen explosions accurately due to manufacturers’ and users’ underreporting of incidents.
Additionally, the precise reason for the explosions is also uncertain. The FDA believes that battery-related explosions occur frequently and advises vape pen users to choose a product with safety features like locking firing buttons, vent holes, and safeguards against overcharging.
The FDA advises learning as much as you can about your vape pen, including how to handle it and charge it, until all vape pens and other e-cigarettes adhere to uniform safety requirements. The summary of their recommendations is as follows:
- Read the manufacturer’s directions to make sure you comprehend how to use and maintain it. Call the manufacturer if there is something you don’t understand.
- Keep the safety precautions in place. Do not disable or remove them.
- Just use the batteries that are suggested for your gadget. Never use batteries with various charge levels or mix & match batteries.
- Charge your vaporizer at a spot that is tidy, level, and devoid of anything combustible. While it is charging, avoid placing it on your pillow, in your bed, or in your pocket.
- Inform the FDA of any flames or explosions. By doing this, they can establish how frequently these instances happen and whether a product needs to be recalled.
Vape Pens Are Ineffective Tools For Quitting Smoking
Research is starting to indicate that vape pens and e-cigarettes are ineffective at helping smokers quit, despite the fact that they were initially marketed as a smoking cessation aid and a safer alternative to smoking. Additionally, unlike other aids like nicotine patches, the FDA has not recognized vape pens as a useful tool for quitting smoking.
In fact, a recent research of 729 smokers found that those who started using vape pens to quit the habit either went back to smoking cigarettes or used the gadgets in addition to traditional cigarettes.
In the meantime, a New Zealand trial revealed that the patch was far more successful in helping smokers stop. Researchers also discovered that free e-cigarettes were less successful than financial incentives combined with free cessation aids in helping people stop smoking.
Vape Pens Contain Dangerous Substances
The majority of individuals believe that vape pens are a secure substitute for cigarettes. Contrary to popular belief, vape pens also produce aerosols that are absorbed into the lungs and contain dangerous chemicals and ultra-fine particles. Young people frequently mistake this for water vapor.
There are dangerous components like nicotine, THC, vitamin E acetate, and other substances in almost every vape pen or e-cigarette.
For instance, acrolein, a well-known component of many vape pens and e-cigarettes, is known to harm the lungs permanently. In the meantime, nicotine exposure is quite bad for the brain as well as the lungs.
Vape Pen Fluids Can Be Compulsive
Many individuals think that vaping is less addicting than smoking conventional cigarettes. But it simply isn’t the case. Nicotine, which is included in both vape pens and cigarettes, has been found to be just as addictive as heroin and cocaine.10 Additionally, many vapers consume more nicotine than smokers would if they smoked cigarettes.
To receive a stronger hit, consumers can, for example, purchase extra-strong cartridges or utilize a greater voltage on their vape pen. When this occurs, people become addicted far faster than they would if they were simply smoking conventional cigarettes.
Additionally, studies show that vaping may even activate the brain’s reward system, increasing the likelihood of drug addiction among users. In fact, the National Institute on Drug Abuse cautions that, particularly in a teen’s growing brain, nicotine addiction can make other substances like cocaine and methamphetamine more appealing.
Use of Vape Pens May Cause Lung Conditions
In addition to lung irritations like bronchitis and coughing, vaping has lately been linked to EVALI, or “e-cigarette or vaping product associated lung injury.” After health department officials around the nation began to notice that lung infections were happening in otherwise healthy people, the CDC first identified this ailment in August 2019.1
They found that all of the people who were having trouble breathing and had to be hospitalized shared a commonality: vaping. EVALI has not been connected to a specific substance, however the agency has suggested that vitamin E acetate may be responsible.12When individuals vape, this component is frequently combined with THC, a substance found in marijuana.
Message From Verywell
It’s crucial to keep in mind that vape pens and other e-cigarettes are still fairly new goods that haven’t been on the market for very long. So far, it is unknown what the long-term impacts and health hazards will be.