Dangers of Smoking - A video from the Instagram account @chatanaktuhan titled "Children of God, Don't Vape" recently went viral on social media.

The video shows a pastor giving a sermon, explaining that vaping is dangerous and that people who vape can get trapped into doing worse things, which could ultimately lead to drug abuse.

However, the video received a response from the Instagram account @rokbar.co, which presented relevant data to discuss whether the dangers of vaping are indeed greater than the dangers of smoking.

Therefore, let's look at the discussion points from the video below.

Is Vaping Worse Than Smoking?

When talking about danger, the question that arises is “what exactly makes something dangerous?”

Facts show that every year, approximately 6 million people worldwide die from smoking. This figure is equivalent to the number of victims in the Holocaust, where the Nazis killed 6 million Jewish people. However, this time the number occurred without any war, but as a result of the dangers of smoking.

Source: WHO: 6 Million People Die Due to Smoking

In Indonesia alone, 225,000 people die each year due to smoking. In comparison, this figure is equivalent to the victims of the Aceh tsunami in 2004. This means that, indirectly, Indonesia experiences a "health tsunami" every year due to smoking.

Source: WHO: 225 Thousand Indonesians Die Every Year Due to Smoking

Meanwhile, data related to deaths from vaping has not yet been proven. If it is called ‘worse’, shouldn't vaping cause more deaths than smoking?

Does Vape Contain Harmful Metal Substances?

In fact, vape does not contain metal substances. Vape liquid only consists of nicotine, PG/VG (Propylene Glycol and Vegetable Glycerin), flavorings, and solvents.

It is true that vaping uses a heated coil, but that does not mean that vape contains metal. The analogy is like cooking with a frying pan—does the cooked food automatically contain metal from the pan? Of course not, right?

Vape: Is It Just About Flavor and More Dangerous Than Smoking?

Vaping is actually an innovation. It was designed as a new vehicle for enjoying nicotine, replacing cigarettes which have long been known to be dirty because they contain tar, carcinogens, and various other toxic substances that enter the body.

As an alternative, vaping is present to meet daily nicotine needs in a cleaner and potentially healthier way than cigarettes. However, this does not mean that tar or carcinogens are also contained in vaping.

Vaping is 95% Lower Risk Than Smoking

Based on research conducted by Public Health England, vaping has at least 95% lower risk than smoking.

Source: Public Health England maintains vaping is 95% less harmful than smoking

In fact, some hospitals in the UK have provided special booths to sell vapes to patients who want to quit smoking. This is done as a healthier alternative for those who want to break the habit of smoking.

Source: Vape shops open in two UK hospitals to help smokers kick the habit

Vape: A Trap Leading to Drugs?

It is important to distinguish between the side effects and the main purpose of vaping. Abuse is a side effect, not the primary goal.

Vaping was not created to support drug use, but rather as a safer alternative to deliver nicotine in a cleaner and more controlled way.

Don't Harm Yourselves

For those of you who have never smoked or vaped, it is best not to try vaping. However, if you are a smoker and find it difficult to quit, vaping can be a better alternative.

Of course, the best choice is to quit entirely—both smoking and vaping. That way, you can maintain optimal health.

Conclusion: If you cannot stop smoking, vaping is an alternative with lower risks. However, the best step is to quit both for long-term health.

Source Article: @rokbar.co & @chatanaktuhan