Promoting vaping!

Vaping, it is claimed, is less harmful than smoking. But can it be denied that it is still dangerous? In fact, deaths have been reported from a severe respiratory disease due to vaping i.e. puffing an electric cigarette. The first such death was reported in the United States as far back as August 2019.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has detected hundreds of "potential cases" of the respiratory disease, reinforcing the serious risks associated with e-cigarette products.

It is thus strange to note that an event was organised in Lahore earlier this month to promote international vaping brands and create collaboration among industry pioneers, retailers and users. The event, called Vape Expo Pakistan 2025, is meant to serve as a catalyst for promotion of e-cigarettes and vaping devices even though there is no denying now that these devices expose users to toxic chemicals, potentially leading to serious respiratory and cardiovascular issues.

There is no dearth of experts in Pakistan who continue to warn about the dangers of vaping, including lung damage, addiction leading to conventional smoking, etc. To the contrary, very attractive and relevantly designed ‘vaping cafes’ and ‘vaping lounges’ continue to operate all across the country, enticing the youth, in particular. 

Thus, instead of promoting and glamourising vaping and presenting it as a trendy alternative to smoking tobacco products, there is need to highlight the harmful effects of this dangerous practice. It is nothing short of criminal to endorse puffing e-cigarette as benign – and that too at high-profile events with much fanfare. While there is need to educate people through advertisement campaigns on vaping being not as harmless as promoted, what is more important is to bring changes at the policy level to discourage the toxic trend.