By Ray Chang
E-cigars, vape pens, and geek bars are among the most common names of electronic cigarettes, characterized by their emission of distinctly pungent odors. Those very same odors that tickle and arouse the nostrils of e-cigarette consumers not only devastate those very same consumers—often underage teens—of their biological sanctuary, but also endangers the general safety of the environment—both physically and cognitively. Yes, the health related defects that e-cigars engulf the human body with is already prominent enough through global headlines and common sense; but the underlying psychology of how vapes asserted themselves as such a prevalent figure in the drug and alcohol industry stems from the iniquitous ways vape products have been portrayed to the public.
The emergence of vapes certainly boomed during the 21st century which traces its roots to the cognitive effects smoking inflicts onto people. “Peer pressure,” a term commonly associated with why vapes have and continue to influence the lives of many people around the world may not actually be the underlying reason (although definitely a major reason) why vapes have gained so much popularity. Instead, the mutual notion that vapes are“healthier” than normal cigars urges the general populace to more reluctantly try out a vape. Consequences associated with vapes are unknown due to the relatively minimal amount of research surrounding the obscure synthetic elements found in vapes. Even though vapes do carry much less nicotine and carbon monoxide than traditional cigarettes, the novelty of vapes helps maintain their prevalence. Until contemporary research comes to expose the chemical intricacies that are meticulously engineered in a scented bar no bigger than a smartphone, vapes will continue to grip the lives of many. Moreover, the “healthier” alternative vapes offer incentivizes the public’s widespread adoption of the scented bar, which by effect amplifies the negative effects e-cigarettes have already brought upon the environment. With the subject of health incentivizing the perpetual widespread use of e-cigarettes, environments continue to suffer from physical and cognitive defects from secondhand fumes that contain an unknown amount of noxious carcinogens. In sum, the depiction of modern e-cigarettes as “healthier” alternatives to traditional cigarettes may be nothing but a fallacy because of insubstantial research as proof—but the “healthy” notion of vapes have also blinded the judgement of society on the logical detriment that vaping will plague society with.
Vaping indeed presents far less devastating consequences than smoking a real cigar, but that comes from the fact that vaping has existed for a much shorter time than cigarettes. It is up to society as a whole to collectively observe, interpret, and solve problems in everyday life, especially those pertaining to addiction. Higher powers like monopolistic corporations—the very same ones that may manufacture e-cigarettes—could pour in more effort in advancing the contemporary world’s knowledge about the synthetic yet appealing scented bars everyone is using. As for the general populace, step outside to reflect, ruminate, and just breathe air.