Non-smoker interested in vaping?

[LuisCH]

Hi there! I thought I'd make my introduction along with what I want to know.
Name's Luis, 23 yo, and interested in vaping.
I've never smoked anything tobacco related (or any, smoking for that matter) but I grew up in a family of smokers, so I guess im kind of used to the whole smoke breathing. I've got a few friends that vape and they use nic juice since they used to smoke analogs, and I guess I kind of got curious since I know there are juices that contain 0 nic and a lot of flavors. So my basic question is: is it safe/good/not-totally-going-to-kill-me-and-give-me-cancer-or-destroy-my-lungs-and-or-throat if I start vaping with 0 nic juices? Like a hobby or something like chewing gum, not doing it 24/7 but from time to time to relax and taste something good in my mouth.
I hope to learn a lot in this forum and thanks for the replies!

 

[Norrin]

It's not as dangerous as smoking, but honestly if you don't smoke I wouldn't suggest doing it. Yes you can get loads of different flavours, but you can get these though other things like sweets.

 

[keepsmiling]

Welcome Luis. I don't think anyone can honestly answer that question. I believe there are elements of it that are not safe. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

[concentriccircles]

"is it not-totally-going-to-kill-me-and-give-me-cancer-or-destroy-my-lungs-and-or-throat" - yep
"is it good" - yep
"is it safe" - probably
Normally people say that any harm is causes is basically negligible compared to smoking, but since you don't smoke that isn't a good argument. Personally, I used to smoke, and I used to munch jelly babies and other candy all day. Now I don't smoke, I don't vape nicotine anymore (used to as I was quitting smoking but steadily wound it down to 0mg), and I eat a lot less candy, I do use my vaporiser like a pacifier though. Everything I've read points in the direction of the harm caused by vaping being pretty negligible, nevertheless, there (still) isn't enough research to call it harmless.
For me, I feel like I've probably extended my life a lot by moving from smoking to vaping, and I think that the vaping is probably less harmful to me than 800 calories of candy a day are, but it's really a decision you have to make for yourself.

Gummy Cola by Cosmic Fog is amazing and tastes just like fizzy cola bottles. Distortion by Not Too Shabby is also awesome, and tastes just like refresher bars.

 

[Brettanomyces]

I wouldn't recommend vaping for a nonsmoker but if you decide to I would recommend 0 nic, it ruins the flavor anyway.

 

[deavidsedice]

So my basic question is: is it safe/good/not-totally-going-to-kill-me-and-give-me-cancer-or-destroy-my-lungs-and-or-throat if I start vaping with 0 nic juices?

Having nicotine or not will not change a lot about the safety. It is a added as a pure chemical, and like cafein, it's flagged as possible cancerigen, but no one it's sure.
The worst part of the tobacco is not there.
I find liquids with nic that are hard to breath for me than 0nic ones. And vaping nicotine increases heart rate, as caffeine does. That's all I know for nicotine.

But anyway, vaping it's harmful too, but a lot less harmful than smoking. The problematic component on vaping is PG (Propenglycol), some people is allergic to it (but i never met anyone). Some people that vapes a lot report more problems with his voice or throat, specially when it's combined with a cold.

If you don't vape much (less than 1ml per day) maybe any problem is negligible.

 

[bullet08]

i can't really believe inhaling anything other than fresh air will be good for the health. but vaping is much less harmful. if you are not a smoker, i don't see any reason to start vaping. of course, it is totally up to you as to if you want to vape or not, but if i was you, i wouldn't.

 

[wasteyrself]

The act of vaping itself won't hurt you, but if you're not already dependent on nicotine whether physically or mentally I'd definitely try to push you towards the "not doing it at all" camp unless you really do want to just smoke flavored juices. As much as I enjoy vaping, sometimes I wish I still wasn't taking in nicotine at all.

 

[danny4x4]

Sounds as if you're being influenced by your friends. They vape and you want to try it too. Maybe just to fit in, to not be left out when they're vaping and talking about vape stuff?

I think most of us ex smokers have been through that, and most of us regret it to this very day. If I could quit vaping and not go back to smoking, I would.

Don't think that nicotine is the only allure to smoking. Some vape for the flavor, others for the clouds, and some are just addicted to all things shiny and nice. So even if you do vape 0mg nic, it may become an addiction.

Not trying to get rude, but unless you're vaping to get off cigarettes, don't even consider starting. This is just my opinion. Your life, your call.

 

[GinnyTx]

Firstly ANYTHING you put into your lungs is NOT going to be as "healthy" as NOT putting anything in there.

if you're wanting the social vape thing, with your peers, I "get it" but count on gaining a habit. That's how this hand to mouth, pleasure thing works in our brain for some.

some can go hookah on a friday night and never think about it until the next time friends go..


there's a lot more appropriate NON chemical/substance ways to relax...figure out some of those.

it's not without side effects, harmful? well that's to be determined honestly. less harmful than cigarettes? absolutely.

 

[firerat]

So is vaping something most of you do for enjoyment, or to just quit cigs?

 

[wasteyrself]

So is vaping something most of you do for enjoyment, or to just quit cigs?

I guess it's a bit of both at this point. I don't want to deal with analogs at all anymore, mainly because of the disgusting smell that permeates every layer of your clothing and being, as well as the fact that it's condemning me to an early grave. Vaping is a surprisingly interesting hobby, if you're into wild flavors and different juices you can get a lot of enjoyment out of trying new and different things, and tinkering with mods is a beast of its own.

Would I have ever been interested in vaping if I had never picked up smoking? Maybe, I honestly can't say for sure at this point, I'm in a way different headspace than where I was when I first picked up any kind of smoking at all, no point in dwelling on it.

 

[nyiddle]

The real answer is:

We don't know yet.

Most evidence seems to point in the direction that e-cigarettes are less harmful than cigarettes (though, that's not a good argument if you've never been a smoker) but there are some things about e-cigarettes that we know are unsafe. There is some evidence that certain flavorings can be harmful. You have the potential dangers of a battery venting. On top of all that, certain manufacturers aren't really using quality materials, and are using brass and alloys where there should be stainless steel.

E-cigarettes are meant to be a risk-reduction technique. By picking up an e-cigarette instead of an analog, you are reducing the risks associated with smoking by doing something other than smoking. If you're vaping (even if it's 0nic) and you never smoked, you're picking up risks where you didn't normally have risks before. It's sort of inherent with most things in life, but it's an avoidable risk.

I'm not saying I wake up every morning and stare down the barrel of a gun. When I smoked cigarettes I was basically slowly killing myself. With e-cigarettes I'm fairly confident that if I am still killing myself, I've drastically increased the time it's gonna take.

In time, I'm sure, there will be more studies done to figure out which flavorings we shouldn't actually be inhaling, whether or not there's a serious concern with diketones and the like (I'm looking at you, people who have been vaping solely custards for 2 years), whether we can further limit the amount of risks we take on. Until then, nobody can say confidently that vaping is "safe" or not. I think it's important to disclaim the potential risks that are associated with this VERY new science. It's something a lot of people fail to do or see.

Not a lot of people want to admit it, but in a few years we might find out that there are serious risks associated with vaping. Until that happens though, I'll keep on vapin'. It's your decision what you want to put in your body, in regards to e-cigarettes. Everything else, car exhaust, pollution, whatever, is sort of out of your control.

 

[gandymarsh]

Originally, I started vaping to quit smoking. Now I do it to stay off tobacco so I don't think I'll ever quit vaping. I quit smoking several times only to start again.

Edit; I do enjoy it also.

 

[firerat]

Not a lot of people want to admit it, but in a few years we might find out that there are serious risks associated with vaping. Until that happens though, I'll keep on vapin'. It's your decision what you want to put in your body, in regards to e-cigarettes. Everything else, car exhaust, pollution, whatever, is sort of out of your control.

So do you think there is merit to people who are against allows vapers to vape inside? Like you said, we just don't know the effects yet. That is true of both vapers and folks around them.

And sorry if I am derailing this thread. I might just begin a new one to continue this conversation.

 

[danny4x4]

Not a lot of people want to admit it, but in a few years we might find out that there are serious risks associated with vaping. Until that happens though, I'll keep on vapin'. It's your decision what you want to put in your body, in regards to e-cigarettes. Everything else, car exhaust, pollution, whatever, is sort of out of your control.

So do you think there is merit to people who are against allows vapers to vape inside? Like you said, we just don't know the effects yet. That is true of both vapers and folks around them.

And sorry if I am derailing this thread. I might just begin a new one to continue this conversation.

For me, yes. What smells like like peach to one person might just absolutely stink to another.

 

[firerat]

For me, yes. What smells like like peach to one person might just absolutely stink to another.

Fair enough. I try not to be a burden to other with vaping just as I was when i smoked.

 

[concentriccircles]

So is vaping something most of you do for enjoyment, or to just quit cigs?

At first I started it so I didn't have to go outside in the rain to smoke. Then after a week I just stopped wanted to smoke, it tasted too crappy compared to vaping. Now I just vape 0 nicotine because I really really like it. It's definitely a habit, but not a physical dependence, it's just damn tasty.

So do you think there is merit to people who are against allows vapers to vape inside? Like you said, we just don't know the effects yet. That is true of both vapers and folks around them.

And sorry if I am derailing this thread. I might just begin a new one to continue this conversation.

Meh, I set off the smoke alarm at home if I'm not careful, so I avoid vaping in the office at work. I don't think it'd go down well if the alarm went off and they evacuated the building because I was sitting at my desk making clouds.

 

[Alto101]

I would say go ahead and try vaping. I would suggest 0 nicotine as you will enjoy the flavor better and aren't used to nicotine. The most recent statements from scientists who are well versed with vaping estimate that it is somewhere around 95% safer than smoking. That still leaves some risk; however so many activities that adults enjoy involve some risk. If at some point, a more significant risk is proven, I bet you would have little difficulty in quitting vaping. Vaping is far less addictive than smoking and I would wager that someone who uses only zero nicotine would have little difficulty in stopping if they wanted to.

 

[Alien Traveler]

So is vaping something most of you do for enjoyment, or to just quit cigs?

It is a nice substitute for cigarettes. It can help to fight nicotine dependence - at least for some vapers.