Vaping not a safer alternative to cigarette smoking, says health advocate

Vaping not a safer alternative to cigarette smoking, says health advocate

MANILA, Philippines — Vaping is not less harmful to health than cigarettes, an advocate for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases stressed on Tuesday.

According to Action on Smoking and Health Philippines executive director Dr. Maricar Limpin, vaping is not a healthier alternative to cigarettes, contrary to how it is advertised.

“Parehas lang po ang chemical na nalalanghap sa pagva-vape [at pagsisigarilyo], therefore it is not harmless,” Limpin explained in a press conference at the Department of Health central office in Manila.

(It’s the same chemical that is inhaled when vaping [and smoking], therefore, it is not harmless.)

“Hindi po siya talaga safer; halos parehas po, if not even deadlier than tobacco,” she added.

(It’s not really safer; it’s almost the same, if not even deadlier than tobacco.)

Limpin also attributed the increase in the number of vape users among teenagers to how it is marketed.

She said that marketers of vape products use the so-called “harm reduction” strategy, where the said products are advertised as less harmful than other nicotine products.

“Sana hindi tayo maniwala basta-basta sa sinasabi na ‘less harmful’ dahil yan din ang taktika noong unang panahon noong nag introduce sila [marketers] ng lighted [cigarette]. I think dapat mas maging matalino na tayo,” Limpin said.

(I hope we don’t just believe what they’re saying that it is ‘less harmful’ because that was also the tactic in the old days when they introduced lighted [cigarettes]. I think we should be smarter.)

Limpin, however also said that it is harder to quit vaping than smoking cigarettes.

She encouraged those who want to stop vaping to visit smoking cessation clinics for proper assistance.

“Medyo mas mahirap talaga ang paghinto ng vape [use] kaysa sigarilyo. Isipin niyo na ang

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