Re: Vaping is an urgent threat to public health, March 26.

I was surprised when my granddaughter in Grade 8 informed me that a number of students in her school were caught vaping in the washrooms. It brought back my own memories, only in my day it was cigarettes. We then had an interesting dialogue about harmful health habits.

My grandchildren watched me struggle with trying to give up my addiction to cigarettes; years of trying useless and ridiculously overpriced quitting aids like nicotine gums, sprays, and patches, hypnosis, and countless how-to books. Finally, after quadruple heart bypass surgery and a week in the hospital, I quit. All was well until my six week recovery period ended, and I wanted nothing more than a cigarette, and actually had several. I also was severely depressed. It was my stepson (smart enough to quit smoking in his late teens) who suggested I try vaping. I am happy to say that a year later I have successfully given up smoking, and therefore feel qualified to comment on several of the points brought up by Elliott M. Reichardt in the article.

First, vaping is not completely harmless, but the same studies Reichardt quotes from agreed that it is considerably less harmful than smoking. How much so requires further research. Second, if youth are going to always be attracted to risky behaviours, better vape than tobacco. There are a lot of vape juices that do not contain nicotine, especially the heavily flavoured ones that are attractive to young adults, therefore that shouldn’t be an addiction factor. There is also no conclusive evidence that children who vape move on to tobacco. All of the studies I looked at used the phrase “may move on.”

On the plus side, vaping eliminates the cigarette butt litter problem, and vapour is far less toxic than cigarette smoke. Finally, one can sneak one or two puffs from a vape instead of committing to an entire cigarette. And there is a huge cost advantage; purchasing a device and enough juice for at least a month is less than the cost of one carton of cigarettes.

Vape shops are already heavily regulated, almost to the point that it is difficult for them to sell their products. And in Ontario, vaping is banned wherever tobacco is, something that Reichardt overlooked.

I have met many “vapers” who are former smokers, and we are all grateful and healthier for it.

Richard Coleman

Richmond Hill