Is Vaping addictive?

Whether or not vaping is addictive and if it’s a safe alternative to smoking is a controversial topic and there’s a lot of misinformation going around.

Today we’re taking a look at some of the commonly-asked questions about vaping, how it compares to smoking and whether or not it’s addictive.

Q: Is vaping addictive?

A: Confusion about vaping addiction is typically because people don’t understand the role nicotine plays. Like when present with cigarettes, nicotine is addictive, and if you’re vaping e-liquids that contain nicotine this is still true. However, the nicotine levels present in e-liquids vary and many vapers choose to avoid nicotine altogether or opt for e-liquids with very low levels of the substance.

Q: Is nicotine dangerous?

A: Nicotine is addictive but it isn’t the cause of smoking-related diseases. You can’t overdose on nicotine using e-cigarettes – if you do have more than you’re used to however, you may feel nauseous or light-headed.

Q: How much nicotine is in e-liquid?

A: You can get e-liquids in a range of nicotine strengths, typically ranging from 0mg to 18mg. This measurement refers to the number of milligrams of nicotine per millilitre of e-liquid.

Q: How much nicotine is in a cigarette?

A: Cigarettes traditionally have higher levels of nicotine than e-liquids, though the amount varies by brand. In the average cigarette there is approximately a gram of tobacco, which works out to 8.4mg of nicotine.

Q: Do all e-liquids have nicotine?

A: No. It’s easier than ever to find e-liquids which are completely nicotine-free, so you never need vape with nicotine if you don’t wish to do so.

Q: Is vaping less harmful than smoking?

A: Yes. Research shows that vaping is far less harmful than smoking and that levels of key harmful chemicals are lower in those who switch from traditional tobacco products to e-cigarettes.

Q: What is a nicotine shot?

A: Nicotine shots are a 10ml shot of liquid nicotine designed to be added to your favourite e-liquids that come in Shortfill form. Shortfill bottles contain nicotine-free e-liquids, commonly in 50ml quantities. Shortfill bottles are not filled to capacity, allowing room to add a nicotine shot to the mixture. Nicotine shots can vary, but are commonly sold in 18mg volumes, meaning once mixed into a shortfill bottle, the final result will be an e-liquid with 3mg nicotine strength.

Q: Is second-hand vapour dangerous?

A: Unlike second-hand smoke from cigarettes, which we know to be harmful, there is no evidence that second-hand vapour from e-cigarettes is dangerous to others. Until there are longer-term studies available with more concrete evidence, many parents in particular choose to follow the same rules with vaping as they would with smoking tobacco; smoking outdoors, away from children, and not in the car.