By Jewel Samonte
Innovation and technology have indeed come a long way from being mere buzz words. Nowadays, it has come to be truly within our grasp, impacting our lives perhaps in ways we never thought could be possible.
Such could be said for smoking. Unlike before when it meant holding a stick of rolled tobacco that emitted pungent smoke between one’s fingers, it has now evolved into a sleek gadget that could easily fit one’s pocket.
The age of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), otherwise known as vapes, has truly arrived, ready to redefine the conventional and harmful way smoking has been enjoyed by the world’s 1 billion cigarette users.
The steep cost of satisfying a craving
Smokers will vouch for the innate ability of a cigarette puff or two to light their creative fire, or to relieve them from the many stresses of their personal and professional lives. Quitting the habit, however, is a different—and for the most part, difficult—story altogether.
Even prior to the release of the 2015 Global Adult Tobacco Survey in the Philippines, there are already about 16 million Filipinos who desired to quit smoking, which translates to 15 percent of the country’s total population. The study said that 75 percent of these smokers have contemplated quitting cigarette smoking, and have even sought medical intervention or professional help to do so. However, only 4 percent, or about 640,000, were successful in ditching the habit. On average, a smoker makes over 30 attempts before successfully quitting cigarette use.
It comes as no surprise that a smoker’s exposure to tar, benzene, cadmium, and dozens more harmful toxins within each lighted stick makes them predisposed to a host of dreaded and deadly diseases: different kinds of cancer, hypertension, and cardiovascular illnesses, among others. The roll call of health consequences is truly a lengthy one, with the trade-off as significant as sacrificing a clean bill of health, and, more often than not, the smokers’ very lives.
It’s almost certain that, with countless warnings issued by various sectors, as well as very graphic warnings on cigarette packs, smokers are well aware of the dangers of cigarette smoking. The balance between resisting the temptation to light a new stick versus responding to the irresistible call of nicotine is indeed a treacherous war of wills for many.
Nicotine is often maligned as the culprit for smoking’s bad rep, when in reality, it has been well documented in innumerable reports that “smoking-related diseases are not caused by nicotine.”1
And because nicotine has been tagged as the main culprit behind smokers’ recurring addiction, alternatives have been made available to cut the craving for such, including gums and patches. None of these, however, have proven to be viable alternatives to the exhilaration that combustible cigarettes provide.
Vapor is in, smoke is out
In recent years, ENDS have found immense popularity among smokers that cannot bring themselves to discontinue the smoking habit just yet but wish to do away with the dangers that come with tobacco cigarettes.
And why not, when a number of globally respected medical organizations, most noteworthy of which is Public Health England, have declared vape products as 95 percent less harmful than combustible cigarettes, and thrice more effective than the aforementioned nicotine replacements therapies in helping cigarette smokers put a definitive stop to their dangerous habit.
Thanks to the dynamism of modern technology, ENDS now come in different shapes, sizes and features to suit a user’s needs. The primary objective remains the same, however—and that is to improve the lives of smokers by weaning them away from the many dangers of tobacco use.
ENDS are normally powered by an internal heating system that vaporizes a liquid to emit a vapor that mimics the look, feel and sensation of cigarette smoking. Yet, unlike its more perilous predecessor, ENDS do not burn any components, nor emit stifling smoke, as there is no combustion that occurs.
More important, high-quality e-liquids are made of pharmaceutical-grade ingredients, such as nicotine salts, to provide both flavor and the guarantee of safety with every use.
Taking your best pick from the lot
Speaking of technology, part of the learning is in knowing the different kinds of ENDS available in the market, and which will appeal or suit a specific smoker. Thankfully, there are just two kinds of systems to remember—the open and closed systems.
The open system is the kind usually seen with vape enthusiasts, where one can refill and modify parts, such as the container tank for the e-liquid, and the rechargeable battery. In addition, open systems enable users to adjust and customize the level and potency of flavor and throat hits, or the sensation in the throat caused by nicotine as it is ingested, according to their preference. As such, smokers that wish to have the flexibility to modify or personalize their devices may consider using open system devices.
A growing number of ENDS users, however, have been veering toward the option in the other end of the spectrum—the closed system. To begin with, devices under this category are sleeker and visibly smaller, as the battery are already integrated into the design.
More important, closed systems are equipped with temperature control systems, which means that the chances of sudden explosion are completely eliminated.
The primary difference between open and closed vaping systems is the manner the e-liquid is delivered to the heating mechanism. While open system use a clearomizer to contain the flavored liquids or juices, closed systems use ready-filled cartridges or pods that can be directly inserted into the device, minimizing messy liquid spills while assuring utmost quality.
In addition, open systems have a removable or detachable mouthpiece while closed system users can puff directly from the pre-molded mouthpiece of their device’s accompanying cartridges.
Best of all, just like modern gadgets, closed system vape devices offer the convenience of less buttons or switches, or having none at all, making it convenient to use.
Utilizing technology for better health
Needless to say, science and modern technology have given smokers the opportunity to turn their backs on the pungent odor and unsightly ash residue of combustible cigarettes, and make the crucial switch to realistic, less harmful alternatives.
In time, manufacturers and distributors envision ENDS to be the perfect platform in rendering traditional cigarettes obsolete, and hopefully, create a society that will be less susceptible to tobacco-related illnesses.
For example, JUUL Labs, the leading vapor brand in the US, has recently launched a Bluetooth-connected device that pushes the boundaries of innovation. By simply registering the device on a mobile application, users can locate the device if it is misplaced, lock it so that no one else—especially youth—can use it, and most important, monitor and control nicotine usage.2
A study presented at the 2nd Scientific Summit on Tobacco Harm Reduction in Athens, Greece, also showed that flavors play a critical role in getting smokers to switch. It indicated that use of menthol and mint flavors produce greater odds of migration from combustible cigarettes.3
Futuristic ‘fuma’
Undeniably, ENDS are real game changers, redefining the way smokers experience smoking moving forward. Technology and innovation have disrupted the industry in a positive way, allowed smokers to take charge of their health, and provided local health authorities with a fresh perspective, especially in laying down the foundation for truly inclusive public health.
It may be high time to stop referring to ENDS as a fad, or even as a corruptive evil, but as effective switching tools that bring a host of positives not only for their users, but society at large, backed by research, development, technology and innovation.
For forward-thinking smokers, their next puff need not be from a “bad burn” of tobacco; but rather, from a new concept of cigarette that’s nothing short of “electric.”
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1https://businessmirror.com.ph/2018/06/24/doctors-nicotine-doesnt-kill-smokers-burning-tobacco-does
2https://www.theverge.com/2019/8/6/20754655/juul-c1-bluetooth-e-cigarette-vape-monitor-consumption-age-restriction
3https://newsroom.juul.com/2019/06/05/juul-labs-presents-new-data-on-the-role-of-flavors-in-switching-from-combustible-cigarettes/