Journal of Psychiatric Insight Review
Open Access • Peer Reviewed • Quarterly Publication
The Dual Nature of Vaping—Harm Reduction or Public Health Threat?
Abstract
Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), commonly known as vapes, have rapidly gained popularity as an alternative to traditional tobacco smoking. Initially introduced as a smoking cessation aid, vaping has evolved into a major public health concern due to its widespread use among adolescents and uncertainties regarding long-term health effects. This article reviews the current evidence on vaping, including its mechanism, potential benefits for adult smokers, and associated health risks, particularly among youth. While vaping may offer harm reduction for current smokers, its appeal to non-smokers and lack of long-term safety data necessitate stricter regulations and further research.
Copyright & License
© 2025 The Author(s). Published by WM Journals.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.