Myths and Facts on Vaping and Tobacco

FALSE: Vaporizer products do not produce water vapour. They produce an aerosol that can contain nicotine and other potentially harmful chemicals and metals. The long-term health effects of breathing in some of these substances are still being studied.

FALSE: Vaping is not harmless. Vaping aerosol can contain potentially harmful chemicals. Higher temperatures can produce more of these chemicals. Vaping products that contain nicotine can also lead to dependence and addiction, especially in young people. We are still learning about the long-term health effects of vaping.

FALSE: Most vaping products contain nicotine, although some do not. The amount of nicotine can vary, and a vaping product can deliver more or less nicotine than a cigarette.

FALSE: Vaping products that contain nicotine can lead to physical dependence and addiction. Young people may become dependent on nicotine with less exposure than adults, which can make it hard to stop vaping.

NOT SO SIMPLE: Some studies have found a link between vaping and later cigarette smoking, but this does not prove that vaping causes someone to start smoking. Research is still looking at this relationship.

Vaping is not harmless, but smoking cigarettes is more harmful. For adults who smoke, switching completely from cigarettes to vaping can reduce exposure to harmful chemicals. Youth and people who do not smoke should not start vaping.