Five Reasons Electronic Cigarettes DO NOT Lead to Smoking
In the vast majority of news stories about electronic cigarettes lately, the author provides some basic, generally positive information about e-cigarettes and then leads into all the fears and worries that the so-called “experts” have about these devices. They almost always feature a representative from the American Lung Association – or another anti-smoking group – who complains about the growing use among teens and claims that e-cigarettes are a “gateway” to traditional cigarettes. Even though there is no scientific or fact-based evidence to support this claim, they continue to use these fear mongering tactics to push their quit-or-die agenda. We can debate whether or not the growing use among teens is a problem, but there is absolutely no truth behind the claim that electronic cigarettes lead to smoking.
Studies Say It’s NOT a Gateway
Once again, despite what many experts claim, there’s no evidence to suggest that someone who starts vaping will eventually start smoking. In fact, a recent study implies exactly the opposite:
Overall, 43 participants said their first nicotine product was an e-cigarette. Of that group, only one person said they went on to smoke regular cigarettes. And the vast majority who started with e-cigarettes said they weren’t currently using any nicotine or tobacco.
Reasons It Doesn’t Make Sense
But let’s put the studies aside… do we really need experts to prove that electronic cigarettes are not a “gateway”? Just consider the facts and common sense should tell you that it’s very unlikely that an electronic cigarette user would start smoking. It just doesn’t add up! Here’s why:
#1 – Smoking Tastes Nasty
#2 – Smoking Stinks
#3 – Smoking Makes You Feel Unhealthy
#4 – Smoking Poses Scary, Long-Term Risks
#5 – Smoking Costs More Money
It Just Doesn’t Happen…
With all of these pitfalls, why would anyone choose smoking over vaping??? In no way am I condoning e-cigarette use by teens, or by anyone, but there are major flaws in anti-smoking activists’ claim that electronic cigarettes lead to smoking. Not only is there no evidence to support this claim, but common sense leads me (and others) to believe that it just doesn’t happen… or it doesn’t happen often. Very rarely does a non-smoker pickup an electronic cigarette and start vaping. And out of the handful of “non-smokers” I know who started, NONE OF THEM STARTED SMOKING CIGARETTES… ZERO!
