Smoke and Vapour: The Real Risks of Tobacco and Vaping

You have probably seen adverts warning about smoking, or noticed someone vaping in the street. But vaping is newer and often marketed with bright colours and sweet flavours — so it can seem very different from a cigarette. Here is a question to get you thinking: if two products both contain the same addictive chemical, does it matter which one you choose? Hold that thought — you will be able to answer it much more confidently by the end of this lesson.

**Tobacco cigarettes** are made from dried tobacco leaves rolled in paper. When you light one, it burns and produces smoke containing over 7,000 chemicals. At least 70 of those chemicals are known carcinogens — substances that can cause cancer. The most harmful include tar (a sticky brown substance that coats the lungs), carbon monoxide (a poisonous gas that reduces the oxygen your blood can carry), and nicotine (the chemical that causes addiction). Long-term smoking raises the risk of lung cancer, mouth and throat cancer, heart disease, stroke, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) — a serious condition that makes breathing progressively harder. Smoking also reduces fitness, damages skin, and harms almost every organ in the body. **E-cigarettes (vapes)** work differently: a battery heats a liquid — called e-liquid or vape juice — turning it into a vapour that the user inhales. Because there is no burning, vapes do not produce tar or carbon monoxide. This is why some health organisations consider vaping less harmful than smoking for adult smokers trying to quit. However, 'less harmful than cigarettes' does NOT mean 'safe', especially for young people whose lungs and brains are still developing. Most e-liquids contain nicotine, often at very high concentrations. Nicotine is highly addictive: it triggers the release of dopamine in the brain, creating a feeling of pleasure and relief that makes the brain want more. Over time, the brain adjusts so that it only feels 'normal' when nicotine is present — this is addiction. Young people's brains are more sensitive to nicotine, so they can become addicted faster than adults. Vaping also carries risks that scientists are still investigating: some e-liquid flavourings produce harmful compounds when heated; fine particles in vapour can irritate the lungs; and there have been serious lung injury cases linked to certain vaping products. The long-term effects of vaping are not yet fully known, because the products have not existed long enough to study. **Why do people start?** Social pressure, curiosity, and clever marketing all play a role. Tobacco and vaping companies have historically used appealing packaging, sweet flavours, and social media to target young audiences. Recognising these tactics is the first step to making an informed choice. **Strategies for resisting pressure:** - Use a clear, confident refusal: 'No thanks, it's not for me' — you do not owe anyone an explanation. - Change the subject or suggest something else to do. - Leave the situation if the pressure continues. - Talk to a trusted adult if you feel repeatedly pressured.