Nicotine addiction in vaping, conventional cigarettes are just as harmful – NARCC
KUALA LUMPUR: Addiction to conventional cigarettes and vaping is caused by the nicotine contained in both products.
Therefore, the harm to health due to addiction is the same in both cases, according to Associate Prof Dr Nur Amani Ahmad Tajuddin.
The Deputy Coordinator of the Nicotine Addiction Research and Collaborating Group (NARCC) of the University of Malaya said, it is more worrying when teenagers mistakenly think that their addiction is to flavors and smells when the products are damaging to health.
“Nicotine is in cigarettes and vaping. Without nicotine in vape, no one wants to buy it. Nicotine in this vape is placed artificial flavorings, flavors and colors.
“The perception of teenagers who vape is that they are addicted to the good flavor, flavor and smell. What they don’t realize is that this substance called nicotine is what actually causes addiction,” she said .
Nur Amani said another common misconception is that vaping does not have as bad an impact on health as conventional cigarettes.
Meanwhile, he said, both of these products contain nicotine which results in addiction.
“That’s why (industry players) want to remove nicotine from the Poisons Act because nicotine is a must-have ingredient in vaping.
“Switching from conventional cigarettes to vaping doesn’t mean it’s safer.
“Even though there are actually 250 to 350 chemicals in vaping compared to conventional cigarettes which have 4,000 chemicals, it doesn’t mean you jump from the 20th floor compared to the 13th floor, you don’t die. The only difference is whether you die quickly or slowly,” she explained.
In this regard, Nur Amani urged that the Tobacco Products and Smoking Control Bill 2022 – better known as the Generational End Game Act (GEG) – be passed immediately to control access to tobacco products, especially among teenagers.
Earlier, the government gazetted nicotine patches, liquids, and gels to help quit smoking, and vaping liquids were exempted from the 1952 Poisons Act.
According to the notice issued by Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa on Friday, it is part of the Poisons Order Amending the Poisons List 2023.
