E-cigarettes : New addiction of choice for youth

City has many vape shops with large customer bases, providing nicotine products at various price levels

PESHAWAR:

Vaping is the new cool, regardless of how injurious it might be to health, and teenagers and adults alike, in Peshawar, are hooked to the flavoured nicotine electronic devices.

Traditionally referred to as e-cigarettes but now known by various names such as disposables, vapes, and tank systems, electronic nicotine delivery system have become a common sight in Khyber Pakthunkhwa’s capital; so much so that nearly every major shopping centre in the city has a dedicated vape store - much to the dismay of concerned parents.

One such parent is Irfan Khan, father to 4 children, 2 of which are in university. “When I see children smoking these USB sticks that look like cigarettes, I worry that my children will get hooked on them as well under peer pressure,” shared Irfan.

“The government has already failed to curb the spread of drugs and underage smoking, and now us parents have to worry about a new menace,” he added.

However, Sunny, a third year student from the Gulbahar area of Peshawar, does not see any merit in Irfan’s worries. “Vapes are less harmful than traditional cigarettes or hookahs, which adults love to smoke,” the student claimed, further adding that vaping was a lifestyle choice now. Sunny elaborated that the electronic nicotine devices being available in multiple flavours was also a huge selling point.

Another student, who was buying a disposable from one of the busier vape stores in the city, concurred with Sunny, on the condition of anonymity. “The price of one of these sticks is between Rs 600 to Rs 5,000. So there is something for every income segment. The flavours are nice and they help you cut down on cigarettes,” he informed.

I would prefer to smoke these over cigarettes.”

The sentiment amongst teenagers of vapes being better than cigarettes is helping store owners like Sartaj, who runs an electronic nicotine devices store in Peshawar. “In the past two years my business has grown exponentially,” he shared happily. “I am selling tank systems priced between Rs 5,000 to Rs 25,000 and disposables priced between Rs 500 to Rs 3,000. And I have a buyer for every price point,” Sartaj said matter-of-factly.

Read E-cigarettes now the addiction of choice for Peshawar’s youth

When asked if there was any sort of ban on electronic nicotine devices, Sartaj guffawed. “I legally import these vapes from China, Malaysia, and the United Kingdom. As do many others. If there was a ban you would not see vape stores in every big plaza in the city.”

Sartaj’s observation holds weight as the Express Tribune witnessed a sizable customer base for nearly all of the vape stores it surveyed. However, not all consumers of nicotine devices feel that vaping is a healthy activity. “I got hooked on vapes to quit cigarettes and now I am having a hard time quitting vaping. Contrary to what many teenagers in Pakistan believe, vapes are injurious to health and I wish I could quit them,” asserted Maaz, who was shopping at a store on Warsak Road in Peshawar.

Dr Qazi Shahbaz, an expert on respiratory diseases and senior doctor at the Lady Reading Hospital, concurs with Maaz’s assertions. “Vaping is as injurious to health as smoking. Teenagers and adults need to understand that vaping harms the lungs even more than smoking as they inhale exorbitant amounts of smoke,” explained Dr Shahbaz.

“I would suggest everyone to not be lured by the tobacco free branding of electronic nicotine delivery systems as they can lead to multiple respiratory diseases and permanent lung damage,” implored the respiratory diseases expert while talking to The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 4^th, 2023.