The epidemic of vaping

Call it the desire to look hip or being unable to resist the temptation of getting a high, youngsters are rapidly falling prey to the habit of vaping. Dr Riya Gupta warns youngsters of the risks of vaping and shares methods on how to overcome it

- Dr Riya Gupta

Man has been addicted to intoxicants for as long as human memory can recall it.

From the Somras mentioned in the ancient texts to the current-day liquors, humans have a strange fascination for various forms of socially permitted inhalants. Most consider it a part of adulting and a rite of passage. Others do it to show off and appear trendy and hip. Yet, others develop this habit because it gives them a temporary kick and relief from stress.

Vaping is the new entrant in the long list of addictive substances which have gripped the younger generation. It is an act of inhaling and exhaling vapour containing nicotine and flavouring substances produced by a device called e-cigarettes (also known as electronic cigarettes, Vape Pens, or Pen Hookahs).

How did vaping develop?

Tobacco use has a history of about 8,000 years. It gained widespread popularity in Europe and China after it was claimed to have medicinal properties. Initially in India, it was used as a product to be smoked (hookah) and then gradually smokeless forms like Paan, Khaini were introduced.

To create a more accessible form of tobacco, cigarettes were developed.

But slowly the ill effects of tobacco use on human health were recognised, which led to wide campaigns against cigarette smoking. Cigarettes were thought to be harmful because of incomplete combustion of cigarette products at the cigarette bud.

To overcome this, HTP's (heated tobacco products) and e-cigarettes were developed. In HTP's, the tobacco was heated not burnt. It was marketed in the form of IQOS: 'I quit ordinary smoking.'

The underlying intention of the tobacco industry was to diversify its revenue streams and hook a new generation of users to its products as they understood that they would eventually go out of business after their current customers have either quit or passed away.