Over the last decade, the world has watched as vaping and e-cigarette consumption has grown exponentially in popularity. While it is often viewed as a more convenient, more straightforward method of smoking, it is crucial to understand that there is no current evidence to suggest that e-cigarette use is healthier or better for you. This comprehensive guide will go through some of the critical takeaways of smoking e-cigarettes, such as where you can legally smoke, where you can purchase electronic cigarettes, how much they are and other crucial factors.
A beginner’s introduction on electronic cigs
E-cigarettes, often colloquially referred to as e-cigs, vape pens, e-hookahs or e-ciggies, have only been mainstream for the last 10 years or so. An e-cigarette is a device that produces vapour for smoking. Unlike regular cigarettes, these devices are battery operated and are, therefore, reusable. In terms of their aesthetic appearance, they can look like a standard cigarette, or they can look like a cigar, pipe, pen or even a memory stick.
Vape pens can produce a flavoured smoke aerosol. This is derived from the liquid cartridges (which are purchased separately), which are blended to create the desired flavour. There are many different combinations you can choose from, ranging from sweet to savoury.
Can e-cigarettes help me quit smoking?
At this point, there is NO evidence to suggest that e-cigarettes help people quit smoking. In the United States, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) is yet to approve e-cigarettes as an aid to help people quit smoking. The same can be said about the TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration).
If you want to quit smoking, there are still many avenues you can use for support. You can talk with a counsellor, join a therapy group, make an appointment with your GP or talk with family and friends. Addiction, in any form, can be a tough mentality to break. However, with the support of experts and close family/friends, it is more than possible to achieve!
Where can I buy one?
While we recommend that you don’t purchase e-cigarettes (given the potential health consequences), several outlets retail them. Simply hop online and do a quick search on “vape retailers near me”, and you’ll find a bunch of local providers.
Types of flavours
As outlined earlier, there are some incredibly diverse flavours available from vape retailers like Vape.A.Box. Check out some of the most popular varieties below:
Candy
In the candy/confectionery category, you can find flavours like bubblegum, apple sours, sherbet, cotton candy and other great flavours perfect for all those with a sweet tooth.
Dessert
You can also purchase vape juices that are based on popular dessert dishes. Whether it be chocolate ice cream, honey custard or honeycomb, there are so many options to choose from, making your decision even more difficult.
Drinks
Many vapers like flavours that remind them of their favourite drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic), which is why “drinking” blends are quite popular. Indeed, there are heaps of flavours that pay homage to beverages. For example, you can purchase liquid flavours like coffee, guarana berry (like energy drinks), pina colada, peach schnapps and a range of others!
Fruit/citrus
In terms of popular categories, citrus flavours generally take the cake. You can find flavours in the following fruits: banana, apple, berry, orange, lime, lemon, grape, melon, pear and other tropical mixtures. As the industry grows, more and more retailers are developing hybrid flavours as a way of innovating their product range.
How much is a conventional e-cigarette device?
You can purchase vaping equipment and its relevant accessories if you are not using the device to consume nicotine. As the industry has grown, vaping prices have fallen slightly because of increased supply and more retailers. Basic vaping pens generally range from $50 to $75; however, these products typically don’t have a very young use life. The lower quality e-cigarettes range from $85 to $115. Products in the premium end of the spectrum can generally charge more than $150 per unit. Liquids can also vary quite significant as per quality and quantity. Low-quality liquids can be as cheap as $15 per 10ml, whereas higher quality juices can be 3-4 times that price.
What type of accessories are there for vaping?
There are heaps of vape accessories available in the current market. For example, you can purchase drip tips, replacement coils, additional batteries, cases for your device, replacement atomisers, sanitisers (to clean your device) and replacement chargers.
Cleaning and maintenance tips
Cleaning and maintaining your e-cigarette or vaping device are essential. While we don’t recommend sharing your device with other people, it is sometimes inevitable (especially when at parties). Since this is often the case, we suggest you clean it at least once a week (depending on how often you use it).
If you want to clean the vape tank, fill a bowl with warm water and then detach the tank from the device. Any remnants of e-liquid in the tank should be emptied. Once you have disassembled the tank, place the components in the warm water and begin washing. Use a few drops of soap to remove any lingering stains (however, you shouldn’t need any more than that). Dry each component by hand and then allow each part of air dry for a further 15 minutes or so. Once completely dry, reassemble the tank and connect to the device. You can use this process for the other parts of your e-cigarette or vaping device.
Conclusion
So, there is a lot of information when it comes to vaping. It is important to remember that smoking e-cigarettes is still a potentially dangerous activity and should not be undertaken as a way of overcoming an addiction to nicotine or cigarettes. At this point, there is no evidence to suggest that switching to e-cigarettes can help you overcome smoking addiction. If you decide to purchase a device, be aware that using nicotine with it is a crime and can reap a severe fine.
