15/09/2025
Some interesting reading from Asthma New Zealand about Va**ng.
Va**ng and Youth
Va**ng - what we know, what we don’t know and why it matters
Va**ng is often advertised as a 'safer' alternative to smoking, but the reality is more complicated.
Because v**es (aka e-ci******es) are not regulated, meaning no one is checking what's really in them, the quality and safety of v**e ingredients vary. Many v**es contain harmful chemicals like:
• Formaldehyde (used to preserve dead bodies)
• Acrolein (poison used in w**d killers)
• Petrol by-products (chemicals also found in gasoline)
• Heavy metals (like lead, nickel and cadmium)
These substances are known to:
• Damage lung tissue
• Increase breathing difficulties
• Raise the risk of long-term respiratory issues such as COPD and cancer.
The truth is, we don’t yet know the full dangers of va**ng, just as we didn’t understand the risks of smoking until decades later. But early research already shows that va**ng can stress and damage cells and DNA, and some low-quality v**es may pose similar risks to cigarette smoking.
Ni****ne, often found in v**e liquid, is highly addictive. A single drop of v**e juice can contain as much ni****ne as a pack of ci******es, making quitting harder and increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and poor brain development - especially in Rangatahi.
The safest choice for you, your whānau, and your patients is still not to v**e or smoke at all.
Free Ni****ne Replacement Therapy (NRT) and quitting support are available to help you make the change.
If you would like support to quit smoking or va**ng, see your GP or nurse today or click here
Test your knowledge of va**ng and find out more information by visiting Don’t get sucked in