Many customers have told us that it’s much easier to control vaping than it is to control smoking analogs. It seems vaping is less addictive than smoking. But why is this? And can you really use vaping in a bid to control using nicotine?

We think you can. And our customers experience suggests that e-cigarettes may be a more effective form of nicotine replacement than patches and gum.

E-Juice Ingredients

When comparing analogs and e-cigarettes, it’s important to remember that tobacco and nicotine are not the same thing.

Tobacco contains thousands of dangerous or deadly substances, such as tar and formaldehyde, and some people believe these form the addiction.

E-cigarettes can deliver a replacement nicotine hit (although it’s possible to vape without nicotine as well). Unlike analogs, e-cigarettes do not contain all the other dangerous substances found in tobacco smoke.  So overall, vapers feel that e-cigarettes are safer, based on the ingredients and current evidence.

Can Vaping Cause Addiction?

Some articles have claimed that vaping is a ‘gateway’ to tobacco use, and analog cigarette addiction.

However, evidence suggests that few people move from vaping to analogs. It’s normally the other way round.

A large American survey claimed that adolescent users of e-cigarettes may be more likely to use cigarettes as well. However, this doesn’t mean e-cigarettes lead to smoking. It’s also important to note that the survey has been criticised and may have been reported incorrectly.

Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) says that a “negligible” amount of non-smokers vape. It says less than 1 per cent of smokers have tried an e-cigarette, and almost none continue to vape after the first few vapes.

What About Children?

Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) wanted to find out of e-cigarettes really do encourage children to smoke.

It has three important findings:

• In March 2014, 84 per cent of 11-18 year olds had heard of e-cigarettes
• 8 per cent of this age group had tried one
• Children using e-cigarettes are likely to be smokers already

ASH says there is “almost no evidence” of use among children who have never smoked.

Reports continue to surface suggesting that children are using e-cigarettes widely, or that e-cigarettes are getting kids addicted to analogs. However, the ASH survey is one of the most cited and trustworthy on the subject.

Using Nicotine

Nicotine is a drug, and we recommend that all e-juice and e-cigarettes are kept out of the reach of children.

That said, we believe that it’s safer than the chemicals in analogs, and most users feel healthier when vaping compared to smoking. Nicotine may also be helpful toprevent Alzheimer’s – although that’s not a reason to start smoking.

Scientists believe that nicotine is not actually very addictive on its own without tobacco and some state on a par with caffeine.

For more information about addiction and nicotine, speak to your doctor for advice.