Frequently Asked Questions about Vaping
What is Vaping?
By definition, ‘vaping’ is the act of inhaling water vapor through a personal vaporizer or electronic cigarette. Vaping eliminates 4000 chemicals and carcinogenic compounds that come from real cigarettes, without compromising the act of ‘smoking’ itself. Vaping can also contain nicotine as an option for maximized effect of cigarette smoking.
What are the benefits of Vaping?
- Better health
- No tobacco, No smoke
- Exempt from public smoking ban
- Cheaper than cigarettes
- No second hand smoke
- Odorless
What are Electronic Cigarettes or E-Cigs?
Electronic cigarettes (also known as e-cigarettes or personal vaporizers) are an alternative to tobacco cigarettes. They are battery-operated devices that create a mist or vapor that is inhaled instead of smoke. The rechargeable battery powers a heating element called an “atomizer.” The element uses low heat to turn liquid in the cartridge, which contains propylene glycol, glycerin, food flavoring and nicotine, into a fog-like mist.
There are many models of e-cigarettes available. Some look like traditional cigarettes, others look similar to a pen and some even look like small flashlights. Some have LED lights, some have built-in liquid reservoirs, others have combined atomizer cartridges, some are tubular and some are even rectangular boxes. They come in all shapes and sizes and have different features for former smokers who wish to distance themselves from anything resembling a traditional cigarette or want a longer battery life and/or better performance. [casaa.org]
Are e-Cigarettes safe?
While anything containing nicotine cannot be called 100% safe, evidence from numerous studies strongly suggests that they are magnitudes safer than tobacco cigarettes. Harm reduction experts can point to research supporting that switching from cigarettes to a smokefree product will reduce health risks to less than 1% of smoking traditional cigarettes – nearly the same as non-smokers. For tobacco harm reduction health professionals, it is misleading and irresponsible for public health officials to tell smokers that smokeless products, such as e-cigarettes, are “not a safe alternative to smoking” simply because they are “only” 99% safer and not 100% safe. [casaa.org] Also check out “No Health Concerns in E-Cig Vapor!“
Are e-cigarettes approved or regulated by the FDA?
The FDA currently considers e-cigarettes to be tobacco products. Originally, it claimed that e-cigarettes are being used as smoking cessation devices and therefore they needed to be regulated the same as pharmaceutical nicotine replacement therapy drugs (NRTs). In 2009, the FDA ordered customs officials to start seizing e-cigarette shipments coming into the country.
On April 25, 2011, FDA announced in a letter to stakeholders that it would not appeal the decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in Sottera, Inc. v. Food & Drug Administration, stating that e-cigarettes and other products are not drugs/devices unless they are marketed for therapeutic purposes, but that products “made or derived from tobacco can be regulated as “tobacco products” under the FD&C Act. The FDA stated that it is aware that certain products made or derived from tobacco, such as electronic cigarettes, are not currently subject to pre-market review requirements of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. It is developing a strategy to regulate this “emerging class of products” as tobacco products under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. Products that are marketed for therapeutic purposes will continue to be regulated as drugs and/or devices. In late 2013, the FDA submitted its regulatory proposal to the OMB.
Contrary to some media reports and comments by legislators, regulation as a “tobacco product” under FSPTCA does not mean that e-cigarettes are automatically regulated in the exact same manner as tobacco cigarettes, ie., subject to PACT, flavoring prohibitions and indoor use bans nor subject to the same tax rates. However, it does mean sales of these products to minors are finally prohibited by law. [casaa.org]
What do you need to get started?
The initial investment can be as low as $20-30 all the way into the $100’s. I would recommend a budget of around $50 to start. This is to get some quality gear but not spending too much in case you don’t like vaping.
There are several types of “E-Cigarettes”. Here are the main classes as described by the American Red Cross.
DisposableRechargeablePen StyleTank Style
Disposable
These are what I call “Gas Station” e-cigs. They are typically more expensive that real cigarettes. They are made up of a battery and atomizer that heats the eliquid to produce a vapor. They are not refillable or rechargeable. You burn the vapor until it stop and toss them in the trash. I do not recommend starting with these. You are too limited in flavors and quality of the vape. They are lightweight and easy to conceal, but you sacrifice battery life to get this.
Rechargeable
These are what I call the fancy “Gas Station” e-cigs. They are usually sold in a kit. You get a battery, atomizer that heats the eliquid to produce vapor just like the disposables, but these are refillable and rechargeable. The companies that market this style e-cigarette often sell replacement cartridges with different preset flavors. They are not “refillable” in that you can buy eliquid and fill them up. I am not a fan of these solutions either. They are quite expensive to maintain.
Pen Style
Here’s where you start getting into the type delivery devices that I suggest. There are tons of companies making these style e-cigs. These have a battery inside a tube typically and are rechargeable. The battery, measured in (mah) vary in size. Instead of a disposable atomizer, they usually come with a clearomizer that allows the user to refill with eliquid of their own liking. Instead of taking a drag and it just working, these usually have a button that activates the coil to heat the juice. This method allows you to take a pull of your own desired length. You can get a lot or a little depending on how long you hold the button down. With these type e-cigs, you can start customizing looks and clearomizers to your personal taste too. You can typically get a battery and clearomizer for under $30 at a brick and mortar vape shop. These are larger than regular cigarettes.
Tank Style
This is where you can start spending some money, but the rewards are great as well. These are typically larger than the other solutions. They have bigger batteries, larger capacity tanks, and produce better vapes altogether. Expect to spend $30 all the way into the $100’s for one of these. This is the way to go in my opinion, but for someone just starting out, go slower.
They can be regulated devices or unregulated. I am not going to go into the difference in these, but at this level of e-Cigs, you have a ton of options to choose from.
If you are getting started with the Pen or Tank styles, you’ll also need ejuice. There are 1000’s of ejuice or eliquid choices online. Most brick and mortar shops stock several lines of juice from makers that they trust. I would recommend visiting a local store (directory) and taste test flavors before ordering online.
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