So I asked this crotchety looking woman at the stop smoking table with all of her horrible pictures of damaged lungs what she thinks about
vaping....
"What's that?"
I decided to frame my answer in terms of cessation, rather than try to talk about all the reasons people do it.
"So it is that smoking alternative with the fake cigarettes where you just inhale vapor."
"Well I don't know anything about it but its full of chemicals."
"Actually, not really. You've probably heard about the test on '
cigalikes' made in China. They have no quality control there. American companies, typically independently owned, and the community of vapors, are quite careful and thoughtful about the 3 ingredients that go in there and some studies suggest there may be zero chemicals on exhale."
"Well the FDA hasn't tested and approved it because it is not safe."
Suddenly she thinks she knows a LOT about it.
I chime back, "Studies should be done by independent researchers who do not have an agenda on either side. The FDA is in the process of research and many other smaller studies have been done."
(VERY pompously) "Well, the bottom line is its all just addictive behavior and needs to be stopped."
(calmly) "Nicotine on its own is hardly addictive. I stopped smoking. My lungs won't look like that. And you can Vape without nicotine. In fact many people with asthma can breathe better for several hours after
vaping." (pointed to the models)
"Wouldn't it just be easier to use your inhaler?"
"With all those chemicals and medications in them? Right."
She scowls, and tsks, and I saunter off only to find another smoking cessation gal from another clinic who, by the end of our conversation, wrote down the locations of the Vape shops in and around seattle because she was really excited. Lol. But man that woman was a beast!