Ponderings – Vaping

You cannot walk down a street in France without seeing someone putting a vape pen or box into his/her/their mouth. Vaping is legal and regulated in France, enjoying significant popularity, especially among young people, but you’ll see folks of any age vaping.

I’m not a smoker but was curious to learn more about how it works and why so many seem so called to it.

So some basics: Vaping involves the use of a battery-operated device that heats a liquid to create an aerosol. This process allows users to inhale the aerosol into their lungs. The liquids generally contain: nicotine, flavoring, and the components that make the aerosol, propylene glycol and vegetable glycerine.

There are thousands of flavors ranging from the traditional tobacco to dessert flavors, exotic fruits and more. Its easy to see how the combination of the addictive nicotine and sweet flavors would be draw and keep people wanting more. The vape instruments – typically a pen – has also evolved to resemble lipstick cases, USB sticks, and other ornate holders, usually the size of an earbuds case. Its estimated that nearly 5 million French are engaged in vaping, resulting in a $2.3 billion industry.

While vaping is often perceived as a safer alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes, it still poses health risks. The aerosol contains various chemicals that can affect lung health and overall well-being. The French government has started to recognize that there need to be some parameters. Disposable E-cigarettes are now banned and the sale of vaping products is now age restrictued to 18+ years old. Advertising e-cigarettes and vaping products to youth is banned.

I suppose like most addictive behaviors, there is an element of both a calming feeling and an insatiable hunger. The act of just breathing deeply and slowly, like a drag, can be soothing. And in a world of staircasing stressors and distractions, its easy to understand why folks would want to have these moments to decompress, to get a pick-me-up. And there is a social aspect to it, gaining you access to other people who smoke and are generally calm or calming down. Its a wonder that I didn’t get caught up in this but given that I was often on a tight budget in my youth and did not want to smell like a smoker, it probably was a nonstarter. I did love the smell of cigars on my grandfather and, for a short period, when my dad smoked. The smell was comforting.