From Likes to Lungs: The Dangers of Vape Misinformation

Many people have access to social media, where a vast amount of information is constantly shared. This includes much health-related content, ranging from outright myths to information mixed with partial truths. While some of this information is false, it can be challenging to discern the accurate parts of content that contain a mix of truth and misinformation, especially without further investigation.

A post I encountered on X (formerly known as Twitter) says, “It’s not smoking, though, is it? The exhale from a vape contains almost no nicotine and almost 100% CO2 and water vapour-hence it looks like smoke and is harmless. So it’s a fairly stupid thing to get annoyed about”.

I also saw a post stating that vapes contain "no tobacco". However, do vapes contain nicotine? Moreover, does tobacco contain nicotine?

The truth is that vaping products contain nicotine and various organic compounds that can cause health issues, including respiratory and cardiovascular problems and potentially cancer. There have been associations with seizures and acute lung injuries  (Al-Rawi et al., 2023). The increasing use of these products among nonsmokers, particularly adolescents and youth, suggests a rise in health risks  (Al-Rawi et al., 2023). For existing smokers, using both cigarettes and e-cigarettes raises doubts about the effectiveness of e-cigarettes in promoting cessation (Al-Rawi et al., 2023). Since 2015, e-cigarettes have become the most commonly used tobacco product in the U.S. This trend has raised concerns within the public health community about the health effects of vaping, especially among adolescents, who may be at risk of transitioning to traditional cigarettes due to nicotine addiction (Al-Rawi et al., 2023.)

Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), commonly known as e-cigarettes, were initially introduced as tools for harm reduction or smoking cessation for cigarette users (Al-Rawi et al., 2023). However, these products, particularly vaping devices, have gained significant popularity among individuals who previously did not use nicotine products, including adolescents and youth (Al-Rawi et al., 2023).

Misleading information about vaping can lead people to believe it is a safer alternative to smoking, which may encourage more young users to start using e-cigarettes and increase the risk of transitioning to traditional cigarette smoking (Pesko et al., 2023). The nicotine and other harmful substances in vaping products can cause various health issues, including respiratory and cardiovascular problems, adding to the public health burden as more individuals suffer from these adverse effects. This misinformation complicates the efforts of public health authorities to communicate the true risks associated with vaping, potentially undermining public health campaigns and eroding trust in health advisories (Pesko et al., 2023). Furthermore, the spread of misinformation can hinder the effective regulation of vaping products, as public perception shaped by false information can impact policy decisions and compliance with regulations Pesko et al., 2023).

The pervasive misinformation about vaping on social media is a significant public health concern. Misleading claims that e-cigarettes are harmless or a safe alternative to traditional smoking are contributing to a surge in vaping, particularly among young people. These false narratives not only obscure the serious health risks associated with vaping, including addiction, lung injuries, and potential long-term consequences but also hinder effective public health interventions and regulations. Urgent action is needed to counter these misleading claims with accurate information and to implement robust policies to protect public health. Essentially, the spread of misinformation about vaping is creating a dangerous environment where young people are increasingly at risk, and effective public health measures are being compromised.

References

Al-Rawi, A., Blackwell, B., Zemenchik, K., & Lee, K. (2023). Twitter Misinformation Discourses About Vaping: Systematic Content Analysis. Journal of medical Internet research, 25, e49416. https://doi.org/10.2196/49416

Pesko, M., Cummings, K., Douglas, C., Foulds, J., Miller, T., Rigotti, N., & Warner, K. (2023), United States public health officials need to correct e-cigarette health misinformation. Addiction, 118(5)785-788. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.16097