Vape didn’t help kick the butt

Hyderabad: Although the Telangana state government was planning to impose a ban on e-cigarettes, the decision of the Central government to do so came in handy.

E-cigarettes were banned in 16 states and two Union Territories even before the Centre’s decision. Doctors say that there is not much difference between paper/ general cigarettes and e-cigarettes as the chemical used in the composition of e-cigarettes is also carcinogenic. Some states in India have included it in the schedule of poisonous substances. The main component of e-cigarettes is nicotine, a highly toxic and addictive substance that can adversely affect any organ of the body.

Dr S.A. Srikanth of the Indian Dental Association told Deccan Chronicle, “It gives a feeling of wellness to a person due to which many get addicted to it. A dose of 30-50 mg of nicotine can kill an adult human. Nicotine in pure form may also cause cancer.” He said e-cigarettes are marketed in a way that makes them attractive to youngsters who are misled into believing that it is safe. Many start smoking as a symbol of social status initially and later get addicted to it. E-cigarettes consist of nicotine, triacetyl and propylene glycol. In e-cigarettes, nicotine in liquid form when heated turns into vapour. After casual vaping, the user gets addicted to the nicotine and graduates to cigarette smoking. In short, it serves as a gateway to cigarette smoking and the cigarettes are manufactured by the same company.

The quantity of nicotine inhaled by e-cigarette smokers is the same as in normal cigarettes; there is not much difference in quantity and subsequently in the adverse effects it causes. Propylene glycol can cause irreversible lung damage.

A doctor working with the Voluntary Health Association of India, Deccan branch, said, “Nearly 80 per cent of those who start using e-cigarettes in order to quit cigarettes can’t quit the e-cigarette. It deprives the quitter of a nicotine-free life despite quitting cigarettes successfully. It is like moving to the fire from the frying pan.”

In a country like India, it is difficult to ban a product once it has a large consumer base and social acceptance. The classic examples are tobacco, pan masala, and alcohol. Since e-cigarette has a small consumer base, the ban will be highly effective. Not having a ban on tobacco cannot be the justification for introducing a new addiction even though it may be less harmful.

The country is already struggling to effectively control several addictions (tobacco, supari, alcohol, cannabis, etc) among the youth. There is no need to introduce one more addiction to our future generations, warn doctors fighting against e-cigarettes.