Commentary: How much would enhanced enforcement stamp out vaping in Singapore?
WOULD A CRACKDOWN STOP VAPERS FROM SEEKING HELP?
Some smoking cessation counsellors have shared that their clients are evasive about their vaping habits, given that it’s against the law. One can imagine that strengthened enforcement efforts may make vapers wary of seeking help.
However, the Ministry of Health stated in 2022 that persons who wish to quit vaping will not be penalised when they seek professional help or participate in cessation programmes.
In my experience, clients come to me wanting to quit vaping not because it is illegal, but because of long-term costs and health issues, among others. These reasons seem to outweigh the worry of getting caught.
Another potential ramification of a clampdown on vapes is that vapers may switch to cigarettes instead, which are legal for those aged 21 and above.
Considering that some vapers end up consuming more nicotine when vaping than smoking cigarettes, from the perspective of addiction, they might actually be reducing their dependence on nicotine.
However, some health authorities such as the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention find that e-cigarettes generally produce fewer harmful chemicals compared to cigarettes. But vapes are not safe – they contain toxins that can increase the risk of developing respiratory and cardiovascular conditions.
In any case, we might just end up transferring the addiction type from one to another. The end goal has to be a clear path to nicotine cessation, not just smoking cessation.
