The journey to a tobacco-free life is a long and winding road. Often, speed bumps will arise in the form of questions like: “What if I vape instead of smoke?”, “Is it OK to vape around kids?”, “Is hookah safe?”, “What does it feel like to quit vaping?”, The list goes on and on.

To help you stay on track, we’ve compiled a set of answers to some of the most common questions that come up — either while trying to quit or after you’ve already quit tobacco.

Is vaping safe?

The short answer: No. Vapes contain a flavored, liquid nicotine that heats up and evaporates into an aerosol. When you use a vape, you inhale that aerosol — not just water vapor. Don’t be fooled: It may taste good, but it’s full of chemicals.

While there are still a lot of unknowns about vaping, it’s been linked to chronic lung and heart disease, increased asthma attacks and dental issues. Nicotine also increases stress, anxiety and depression amongst frequent users. Like traditional cigarettes, it only takes a few minutes of vaping or exposure to experience nicotine’s harmful effects on your body and mind.

OK, but vaping must be safer than smoking, right?

According to a 2020 Report of the Surgeon General, e-cigarettes are just as addictive as traditional cigarettes. One vape contains 20 times the amount of nicotine found in a pack of cigarettes. As a result, many people who start vaping will never stop.

According to the CDC, vaping does not have as many negative effects as tobacco cigarettes, but it’s not an FDA-approved quit method either. It’s better to quit with nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) like patches, gum or lozenges, Quit Coaching and other evidence-based, FDA-approved and non-addictive resources. Both NRT and community support increase your chance of long-term success and reduce your likelihood of purchasing cigarettes and risk of e-cigarette addiction.

What about hookah? How safe is it?

Hookah is often consumed in social settings, drawing in young people with its sweet flavors and nicknames. Unfortunately, there are several health risks — some even worse than traditional cigarettes.

For one, hookah doesn’t use the same filtration system as cigarettes. Its tobacco smoke runs through cold water and doesn’t filter out cancer-causing chemicals. Additionally, users inhale it twice as deeply, which increases lung stress. Hookah also contains 36 times the amount of tar and 3 times the amount of carbon monoxide. All these factors can cause heart disease, lung damage, dental issues and cancer. Hookah also contains nicotine, which remains addictive — regardless of how it’s consumed. Learn more about the dangers of hookah.

Is it safe to use e-cigarettes and hookah around children?

The dangers of secondhand smoke and thirdhand smoke are not exclusive to traditional cigarettes. When children inhale vape aerosol or smoke from a hookah, they can suffer similar health effects — from lung and heart disease to asthma attacks and anxiety. Vaping also puts infants at greater risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Additionally, kids who are exposed to smoke or vapor in any form are more likely to start smoking themselves. As children develop and change, nicotine exposure can have long-lasting and devastating effects, even after they’re grown.

Do you have any more questions about vaping or other nicotine products? If you’re looking to restart your quit journey and want FREE support and NRT along the way, click Sign Up at the top of this page or call 1-800-QUIT NOW. We’re here to help.