An ingredient that was believed to only be found in THC is now being used to enhance the addictiveness of nicotine inside different types of e-cigarettes.
The debate feels never-ending. One minute the use of vapes feels green-lit, the next an outbreak of over 2,000 sickened patients across the United States occur to vaping related incidents. The expected culprit? A chemical compound called vitamin E acetate.
“Today, nearly a decade after these products were first introduced, not a single e-cigarette has been reviewed for safety purposes, for addiction purposes, for youth abuse purposes or for efficacy in helping smokers quit,” says Matthew Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids in a recent interview with NPR.
While found in many foods, supplements and even topic skin creams, vitamin E acetate is discovered to have very conflicted properties once inhaled. It’s described as an “oily” substance that lingers around and leaves inflammation in the lungs.
It should probably go without saying that vaping has its negatives, including nicotine addiction, increased risk in cancer and lowered lung capacity.
Many former smokers have found themselves able to quit cigarettes entirely thanks to these types of devices. But, one look around our college nightlife culture could suggest that the devices find themselves in the hands of people who may often never even think to touch a cigarette. Essentially working in reverse, getting young people to smoke and build up an addiction.
Like with most things in life, moderation is key. There is an innumerable amount of adverse health items we intake on a week to week basis be it intentional or not. While perhaps nobody should be scolded for wanting to enjoy an e-cigarette now and then, the best measure might be to recognize when a friend of ours, or even ourselves, might be using it too much.
