Vaping into grave: Health crisis looms as adolescents adopt new mode of cigarette smoking

• Tobacco companies flood shopping malls, online with products, deceive youths with sweet flavours

• Nigeria silent as 110 countries take action

Nigeria stands at risk of massive health crisis as her youths are fast adopting vaping as a status symbol. Vaping is the act of inhaling an aerosol created by an electronic cigarette or vape. It is usually advertised by manufacturers as a healthier alternative to traditional cigarettes. Experts are of the view that\xa0 vaping could damage the lung and the heart, among other other serious health challenges. With the revenue generated in the e-cigarettes market projected to reach US$181.4m in Nigeria this year, according to Statista, the revenue could get bigger in years to come. But the bigger it gets, the bigger the health crisis the country may have to grapple with, INNOCENT DURU reports.

Michael, a 17-year-old boy, takes pleasure in vaping; a habit he started indulging in after gaining admission into a higher institution of learning.

“I learnt vaping from my friends,” he said.

“They told me it is not the same thing as smoking whose offensive smell gives you out easily and make people to stigmatise you.

“Peer pressure and conviction made me to buy into vaping and I feel good with it.”

Like Michael, Emeka also started vaping through peer influence.

He said: “I knew about it through my friends. You can’t roll with them if you don’t vape. I tried and found it is not bad after all.

“It is not what the regular street boys indulge in, and that is why I like it. It is classy as far as I am concerned.”

For Seun, the influence of social media was what led him into vaping.

He said: “I saw people vaping online and I decided to experiment with it.

“When I did, I liked the feeling I got and there has been no going back on it since then.

“Many guys who see it always crave to have a taste of it.

“Some have made it a habit while some others, especially those who don’t have money to buy, wait till they get free vaping from me or others.”

The story is the same with Mike, who said: “I like vaping because you can do it without your parents knowing about it, and, in fact, it is not the same thing as cigarette.

“Vaping is not smoking. You can read it up online. The good thing is that it is not illegal, at least here in Nigeria.

“The flavour in vaping will make you crave for more.

Above named respondents and other young people, according to findings, have unfettered access to e-cigarettes because they are sold offline and online without restrictions.

The products are recklessly displayed and advertised online. All a buyer needs to do on some online sales platforms is to click yes on a box where it is asked whether the prospective buyer is above 18 years.

Statista, a German online platform that specialises in data gathering and visualization, said the e-cigarette market in Nigeria is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing popularity of vaping among the younger population.

The organisation noted that the per person revenue in the e-cigarette market this year is estimated at US$1.08. considering the country’s total population figures.

A World Health Organisation report had observed that the promotion of e-cigarettes has led to marked increase in the use of e-cigarettes by children and adolescents, with rates exceeding adult use in many countries.\xa0

“Further, to date, the commercialization (sale, importation, distribution or manufacture) of e-cigarettes as consumer products has not been proven to have had a net benefit for public health. Instead, alarming evidence on their adverse population health effects is mounting.”

Prices of e-cigarettes in Nigeria

Checks showed that e-cigarette prices in Nigeria vary greatly, ranging from around ₦15,000 to ₦30,000 or more, depending on the type, features and brand. Disposable vapes can cost anywhere from ₦9,968.97 to ₦16,626.05, while rechargeable starter kits with multiple pods can range from ₦16,000 to ₦30,000.

E-cigarettes come in various shapes and sizes. Some look like other commercial tobacco products like cigarettes and cigars. Some of the rechargeable e-cigarettes that are most popular with youth look like USB drives, pens and other everyday objects. Mods and tanks are often bulkier than the other types and are more customizable.

“These devices are creating a new generation of smokers with serious health problems. E-cigarettes are not safe for youth or adults,” Quittobacco SD said in a post.

Many lies about vaping

Exposing many lies used to lure people, especially the young ones into vaping, Dr Egemba Chinonso Fidelis, popularly known as Aproko Doctor said in a video: “I know you’ve heard stuff like ‘vaping is a safer alternative to smoking conventional cigarettes; it’s just flavouring, without all the cancer, etc, etc’.

“But the truth is that vaping exposes you to long-damaging chemicals and can lead to severe health problems like lung irritation, lung scarry, high BP and addiction.”

The first lie, he said, is the claim that vaping is just water.

“It’s not just water; it is aerosol. Aerosol has a lot of negative implications.

“You won’t likely see me advertise for vape cigarette. When you puff vape cigarette, there’s a heat that heats up a liquid and produces an aerosol that is ingested.

“This liquid is often derived from tobacco and contains nicotine, which is a highly addictive chemical.

“Look, even vape cigarettes that claim to be nicotine-free have been found to contain at least small amounts of nicotine.

“And since nicotine is highly addictive, it poses a serious threat to adults and teenagers with developing bodies and brains.”

Another lie that unsuspecting users will probably hear, according to Aproko Doctor, “is that vaping is safer than cigarette. The people trying to sell vaping to you will tell you that vaping cigarette is a healthier alternative to tobacco.

“While vaping does not necessarily contain the mixture of 7,000 chemicals found in a regular cigarette, it contains more than half of these harmful chemicals, which is far from safe.

“Chemicals like ultrafine particles or nanoscale-sized particles that can be inhaled deeply into the lungs.

“Number two, diacetyl, which is a flavoring chemical linked to lung disease.

“Number three, chemicals of heavy metals such as nicotine and lead, which can cause cancer.

“Number four, propylene glycol or vegetable glycerin, which is considered non-toxic only when eaten. But when you inhale it, it can cause severe lung damage, asthma and cancer.”

Continuing, he said: “A very popular lie about vaping is that it has no health risks. Come off it.

“Vape cigarettes have their own unique potential health risks because there are organs in the body that might be immune to the effects of cigarette smoke but can potentially be harmed by the vape cigarette aerosol.

“For example, the aerosols in vape contain propylene glycol, which is now metabolised, broken down by the liver into propionaldehyde, which is actually related to formaldehyde.

“This colourless, strong-smelling chemical can cause irritation of the skin, your eyes, your nose and your throat.

“When propionaldehyde accumulates in the body, it increases the potential for liver damage.

“This chemical also accumulates in the retina. Yes, your eye, at the back of it.

“So there’s potential for retinal damage because many vape cigarette products are not as natural and healthy as they claim to be.”

Concluding, he said: “The last lie but definitely not the least is that vaping won’t make you smoke.

“Look, the people who vape are more likely to start regular smoking cigarettes, and they are more likely to develop other addictions in the future because research is showing that 30% of vape cigarette users began smoking within six months.

“And what is even more troubling is the fact that the numbers are increasing. You know what I mean?

“So instead of being a method for people to quit smoking, it seems to be a gateway to actually start smoking.

“So, don’t be deceived by these lies that lead you to vaping; it’s extremely dangerous.

“I highly will not recommend it. Don’t join them.

“And for you giving it a thought, I mean the most effective way to stop vaping is to never start vaping.”

How vaping works

Cleveland Clinic, in a post on its website, said “vaping works by heating liquid in a small device so you can breathe it into your lungs.

“The e-cigarette, vape pen or other vaping devices heats the liquid in the device to create an aerosol.

“This isn’t water vapour. Mist from e-cigarettes contains particles of nicotine, flavoring and other substances suspended in air.

“You breathe these particles into your mouth from the mouthpiece, where they go down your throat and into your lungs.”

Cleveland Clinic went on to explain that an “electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) is a device that heats up the liquid nicotine and flavoring for you to breathe in.

“There are many varieties of e-cigarettes that go by different names, including vapes, vape pens or sticks, e-hookahs, hookah sticks, mods and personal vaporizers (Pvs).

“They can also be collectively called electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS).”

Dangers of vaping

The dangers of vaping, according to Cleveland Clinic, include lung and other organ damage, breathing problems, addiction and more.

“People tend to think of vaping as “safer” than smoking, but it’s not safe,” it said.

Enumerating the problems vaping causes, Cleveland Clinic said “vaping can make you more likely to get asthma and other lung conditions. It can make your existing asthma worse.

“Diacetyl, a chemical used in some flavorings, can cause bronchiolitis obliterans (“popcorn lung”). Bronchiolitis obliterans causes permanent scarring in your lungs.

“In addition to your lungs, nicotine and other substances in e-liquid can hurt your heart and brain. We know nicotine can hurt brain development, raise your blood pressure and narrow your arteries.”

Continuing, it said: “EVALI (e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury). is a serious lung condition that vaping causes. It causes widespread damage to your lungs and gives you symptoms like coughing, shortness of breath and chest pain. EVALI can be fatal.

“ Nicotine is highly addictive. It causes changes in your brain so you want more and more nicotine. You might not be able to stop vaping if you want to or if it starts causing health problems. Even e-liquids that say they’re nicotine free have small amounts of nicotine.”

Like Aproko Doctor, Cleveland Clinic noted that many people start out vaping and end up smoking cigarettes, which contain higher amounts of harmful chemicals.

“Vaping doesn’t make smoke, but people around you are exposed to nicotine and other chemicals when you vape. There have been incidents of batteries in vaping devices exploding and causing serious injuries and burns.Some ingredients in e-liquids are known to cause cancer.”

Nigeria looks on as 37 countries ban e-cigarettes

Following the health risks posed by e-cigarettes, many countries across the globe have banned the sale and distribution in the land. Incidentally, Nigeria is one of the countries that have allowed the promotion and use of e-cigarettes with impunity.

Analysis on sale of e-cigarettes in Nigeria by Tobacco Control Laws (US) showed the sale of e-cigarettes is not regulated “therefore, the sale of e-cigarettes is allowed. There is no law addressing the use of e-cigarettes in indoor public places, workplaces, and public transport; therefore, the use of e-cigarettes is allowed.”

Regrettably, it noted that: “There is no law addressing nicotine concentration levels in e-cigarettes; therefore, there is no prescribed maximum nicotine concentration.”

Findings showed that the best that the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) had done was to alert Nigerians on the dangers of e-cigarettes.

About six years ago, NAFDAC’s Director- General, Moji Adeyeye, in a statement said that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revealed that there were risks involved with the use of e-cigarettes.

She advised Nigerians who used it to desist, adding that users of the product stood the risk of having convulsion.

“NAFDAC has been informed by U.S. Food and Drug Administration of the risks involved with the use of e-cigarette,” she said.

“Most users of e-cigarettes have experienced seizures, with most reports involving youth or young adult users.

“Seizures or convulsions are known potential side effects of nicotine toxicity and have been reported in the scientific literature in relation to intentional or accidental swallowing of e-liquid.’’

She also advised healthcare providers to investigate the use of e-cigarette by their patients, especially those with seizure.

“Ask patients about e-cigarette use (e.g. vaping), particularly when providing care following a seizure, ask for the particulars of the brand, duration and nature of the use,” said the NAFDAC DG.

“Consider testing cotinine levels, a nicotine metabolite, in addition to the typical urine toxicology screening tests.

“Healthcare professionals and patients are also encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of these products to the nearest NAFDAC office.’

Beyong raising the alarm over the menace of vaping and e-cigarettes, about 37 countries, according WHO’s report, have banned e-cigarettes.

The report said: “The sale/distribution of e-cigarettes is banned in the following thirty-seven (37) countries: Antigua and Barbuda*, Argentina, Australia, Bhutan*, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Colombia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, India, Iran, Japan**, N. Korea*, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mauritius, Mexico, Nepal, Nicaragua, Oman, Panama, Qatar, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Syria, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uruguay, Venezuela, Palestine.”

Apart from outright ban, the report showed that 73 countries have placed strong restrictions on the sale.

“In seventy-three (73) countries that permit the sale of e-cigarettes, there are regulations around sale such as cross-border sale restrictions/regulations, restrictions in venues where they can be sold, access restrictions, or other restrictions.

“Of the seventy-three (73) countries allowing the sale of e-cigarettes, at least thirty-six (36) are known to regulate the amount (concentration/volume) of nicotine in e-liquids. In the EU, the threshold concentration is 20mg/ml “AND” do not permit the use of ingredients (other than nicotine) that pose a risk to human health in heated or unheated form in nicotine-containing e-liquid.”

How e-cigarettes idea was conceived

Narrating how the idea of e-cigarettes was conceived during a webinar on ‘World No Tobacco Day 2025’ attended by our correspondent, Prof. Catherine Egbe of the School of Public Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa, expressed concerns that the tobacco industry has continued to reinvent the addiction that they put young people through. “Philip Morris started making attempts to find out how to make an electronic cigarette. This was done in the 1990s.But the current e-cigarette is accredited to a pharmacist called Hon Lik, who is a Chinese. His father died of lung cancer. And he said, okay, he’s trying to look for something safer so that he, too, will not die because he’s a smoker.”

Unfortunately, the Prof said Hon Link is now a dual smoker. “As at the time of this report, he was using both the invention he had he made, as well as cigarettes. And we all know, dual use is more dangerous than using either product.”

Explaining the difference between e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes, she said: the e-cigarette, which contains over 7,000 chemicals.70 of them are known to be carcinogenic. That is, they are cancer-causing, documented cancer-causing substances. 250 of them are known to be harmful.It’s usually heated between 600 to 900 degrees celsius. I am emphasizing the heat because in the process of the heating, more substances are produced because, of course, chemical reactions take place. Now, we get to hookah, which has now become popular.It used to be more common in the Arab nation, but now has become a global trend. It’s also heated between 650 to 750 degrees Celsius. It contains nicotine, tar, tobacco as well, and some of these chemicals that we have mentioned for cigarettes.

“Then we have the newer products, the heated tobacco product and the e-cigarette. And you hear the industry say, no, this is not heated, it’s heat not burn. We don’t use the word heat not burn because we know that that is to evade regulations. Remember, the application of heat will also lead to the formation of new substances.

“And so even though it’s 350 degrees Celsius, there are certain chemicals that will still be formed. It also contains nicotine, also contains tar. The e-cigarette, it is not a tobacco product per se, but sometimes they use nicotine derived from tobacco.”

She emphasise that tobacco companies sometimes use nicotine derived from the labs, but “it’s also a nicotine product. And sometimes they have products that they say do not contain nicotine. I use what they say because studies have shown that some of the products that they say do not contain nicotine, when they were taken to the lab, they contained nicotine.

“This is kind of the many phases of addiction that is happening. Right from the old traditional ones, even to the new ones, it’s the same story. The common denominator is nicotine, which is an addictive drug that some people have placed at the same level as cocaine.”

She noted that when the e-cigarettes were being brought to South Africa, “the department of health seized the consignment because the law does not define what e-cigarettes are. But the industry went to court and they said that they do not intend to market these products as cessation products, that they are just products for use as luxury, like you have with cigarettes.

“But now, what is happening? The government has decided to put together a bill, which is going through the legislative process to become law, and the industry is fighting it. And on their website, the e-cigarette industry is collecting information to say that, oh, tell us if you have used it to quit. And we have asked them, if you know that this is a quit-smoking thing, take it to the authorities. Why don’t you take it to the authorities and get clearance, so that it can be regarded as a drug for quitting? But no, they don’t want to do that. And by the way, we have done studies in South Africa that have shown that e-cigarettes do not help people to quit for good.It may help them, maybe in the short term. After a while, they return back to cigarettes, or they start smoking both. These are also some of the new products that are in the market, nicotine pouches, nicotine gumies.

If you look at that consignment there, you see different products. And sometimes you may think they are toys. They are not toys.

They are all the different phases of addiction that is currently put out to entice young people to smoke.”

Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. ( Syndigate.info ).