There are many vices that humanity has picked up over its existence. And the more addictive an activity is, the more we are drawn towards it. As a culture we soon realized how dangerous these vices can be if left unchecked. It is why a lot of harmful drugs are illegal. And there are massive restrictions placed on activities such as gambling.

But, in a lot of nations, there is one highly addictive activity that is still legal and massively advertised by the companies that produce it. That is, of course, smoking. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance found in the Nightshade family of plants. The most common plant associated with nicotine is Tobacco. The scientific name of the tobacco plant is actually Nicotiana. For obvious reasons.

The World of Smoking

Smoking has been a part of human culture for nearly 2000 years. Many tribal cultures used to smoke various plants in ritual ceremonies. And this tradition has carried on to this day. Tobacco was primarily a plant that was chewed. The cigarette, as we know it, didn’t appear until the early 19th century in America. Cigars and pipes were around long before this, but these were more natural.

Cigarettes changed the game. They made smoking more accessible, stylish, and addictive. Primarily because cigarettes had a whole host of other ingredients in them. Until we fully understood the dangers of smoking it was advertised massively. Tobacco companies made millions getting people hooked on cigarettes.

Modern Attitudes To Smoking

Smoking used to be seen as the height of coolness. Adverts would depict models and celebrities enjoying a smoke. But, as our understanding of biology has improved, we know now that smoking is extremely harmful. And alongside that many nations have put heavy restrictions on smoking advertisements and sales. Take the UK for example. No tobacco companies can advertise their products anywhere. And their packaging has to be black with a basic font for the brand.

But, sadly, many people are still addicted. But more people than ever before want to quit. Which is where vaping has come into play.

Vaping

Vaporisers are a modern invention that first appeared as a tool to help people quit smoking. But they have since evolved into their own industry. Vapes use various e-liquids that can contain nicotine, but they don’t always have to. The big selling point of vapes is that they can be almost any flavor. As opposed to cigarettes which come in normal or menthol. You can find vapes that are everything from cotton candy flavored to pineapple and rhubarb.

When it first appeared, vaping was seen as a force for good. Something to help people quit smoking forever. But attitudes towards it are starting to shift. And a lot of people are saying this is because the media is encouraging people to use disposable vapes. But how true is this statement?

Disposable Vapes

Firstly, what is a disposable vape? Well there are primarily two types of vapes on the market. The first is the type where you can refill its canister with various e-liquids. These vapes were the first proper form to exist. The liquids with nicotine can come in various strengths. Or can come with no nicotine at all.

Disposable vapes are, as the name suggests, disposable. You buy them and they are ready to use right out of the box. Instead of buying the liquid separately, they are a sealed product with the liquid already inside.

Disposable vapes are a great tool for helping people quit. When you buy them they say how many puffs you can get out of a single unit. And a blinking disposable vape often indicates that it has run out of liquid. The limited nature of them makes them a great quitting tool. A person can limit how much nicotine they have in a day.

The Media and Disposable Vapes

But one issue that has arisen is that the media has started showing disposable vapes as trendy and cool. And what was once a tool designed to help people quit smoking, is getting a whole new generation addicted to nicotine. And what’s worse is that disposable vapes are far easier for young people to get ahold of than cigarettes.

Experts are saying that there is potentially an epidemic of young people becoming addicted to nicotine in high-school, thanks to disposable vapes. And one of the primary influences of this is TikTok. The social media app that has taken the world by storm. With thousands of young influencers showing off their stylish life, with a disposable vape in hand, it is no wonder young people are getting hooked.

And it isn’t just TikTok getting young people hooked on disposable vapes. A lot of modern TV shows, such as Euphoria or Riverdale, have been glamorizing bad habits for the younger generations. By having teenagers played by attractive adults, and putting them in skimpy outfits and over-sexualized situations, these companies are unwittingly steering a generation towards awful habits at an early age.

Of course we aren’t saying there is anything inherently wrong with using disposable vapes. But it should be done when you are at least 18 years old. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance, and even the act of vaping itself is quite addictive. So it is important to be weary of everything you see portrayed in the media.