There’s no polite way to say this: public health experts continue to mislead adult smokers about the realities of vaping. Despite over two decades of evidence demonstrating that nicotine vaping products are far safer than combustible tobacco, agencies like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) still issue statements that misrepresent the risks of vaping. Let's break down and debunk some of these popular myths, yet again. 

Myth 1: Nicotine Vaping Delivers “Harmful Chemicals” 

Reality: Nicotine is a stimulant found in both cigarettes and vaping products, but the way it's delivered makes a crucial difference. Cigarettes burn tobacco, releasing thousands of toxins, including at least 70 known carcinogens. Vaping, on the other hand, involves heating a nicotine-containing liquid to produce an aerosol, which is significantly less toxic than cigarette smoke. 

Studies consistently show that nicotine vaping is at least 95% less harmful than smoking. A groundbreaking report from Public Health England (PHE) has upheld this estimate, concluding that the risks associated with vaping are minor compared to those of smoking/ The Royal College of Physicians also supports this claim, noting that the harm from vaping is "unlikely to exceed 5% of the harm from smoking tobacco”. 

Myth 2: Nicotine Vaping is Addictive and Dangerous for Non-Smokers 

Reality: While nicotine is mildly addictive, addiction alone doesn’t make a product deadly. Nicotine, despite its role in tobacco products, is not the cause of smoking-related deaths. It’s the inhalation of burned tobacco and the resulting toxins that make smoking deadly. 

Nicotine, much like caffeine, can be consumed over a lifetime with minimal health consequences. The FDA itself has stated that nicotine is "not what makes tobacco use so deadly”. Vaping provides a less harmful way to consume nicotine, which can be especially useful as a transitional tool for quitting smoking altogether. This distinction is crucial for smokers who are looking for a safer way to manage nicotine cravings without exposing themselves to the life-threatening risks associated with smoking. 

A January 2024 study published in JAMA unearthed alarming information that demonstrates just how effective vaping misinformation has proven: 

 “This survey study of 28 393 adults who smoke found that harm perceptions of e-cigarettes have worsened substantially over the last decade, such that in 2023, most (57.0%) believed e-cigarettes to be equally (33.7%) or more (23.3%) harmful than cigarettes.”  

These are the adult consumers who Mi-Pod strives to reach. Our goal is to provide current vapers and smokers with access to superior and affordable alternative products. We have no interest in selling our products to individuals not currently using nicotine, and underage buyers are not welcome here.  

Myth 3: We Need More Studies on the Short- and Long-Term Health Outcomes of Vaping 

Reality: After nearly 30 years of global vaping data, there’s little evidence to suggest any major health risks from nicotine vaping. Countries like the UK have used this data to support and encourage vaping as a safer alternative to smoking, while regulatory bodies in the U.S. continue to call for more studies without providing a clear rationale. 

Hundreds of studies have documented the experiences of millions of former smokers who have successfully switched to vaping, many of whom have seen notable health improvements, especially in respiratory symptoms like coughing and wheezing. This extensive body of provides enough evidence for reasonable risk assessments. If the FDA continues to imply the need for more research without acknowledging the benefits seen in other countries, they are indirectly discouraging smokers from switching to vaping. 

Conclusion 

While the FDA and other public health agencies continue to emphasize the hypothetical risks of vaping, thousands of Americans die each year from smoking-related diseases. By focusing on unproven dangers and minimizing the benefits of vaping, these agencies are missing the opportunity to promote a powerful harm-reduction tool. 

After all, per CDC data cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of disease, death, and disability in the United States. Cigarette smoking and secondhand smoke exposure cause more than 480,000 deaths each year in the United States. This is nearly one in five deaths.

With all we know about the harm caused from smoking cigarettes, it is time to prioritize facts over fear. Public health agencies should stop demonizing vaping and start providing accurate information.  

The goal should be to get as many smokers as possible to quit their far deadlier habit—not to fuel unwarranted fears around a far safer alternative.