r/science Dec 18 '19

Chemistry Nicotine formula used by e-cigarette maker Juul is nearly identical to the flavor and addictive profile of Marlboro cigarettes

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-juul-ecigarettes-study-idUSKBN1YL26R
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u/showdefclopclop Dec 18 '19

Did you really quit smoking though if you vape instead? Nicotine is the addictive substance, not the tar

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u/[deleted] Dec 18 '19 edited Dec 18 '19

I think this brings up a really good point about the potential need for rephrasing all this as blatant ‘nicotine addiction’ as opposed to just nicotine-driven actions as identifiers—smoking versus vaping versus chewing, etc.

e: Of course there are many complexities and factors in different methods, but users being aware that the addiction relationship with nicotine is persistent is especially important, I think.

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u/merchillio Dec 18 '19

I have the same question, that’s seems like trading an addiction for another one.

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u/ferretface26 Dec 18 '19

It’s about harm reduction for a lot of people. You stay addicted to nicotine but remove the combustion which normal cigarettes use and which is associated with so many harmful effects. Vaping isn’t safe per se, but most health experts will tell you it’s safer. For me it’s also about cost (cigarettes are $25+ a pack in my country) and not stinking like cigarettes.

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u/Rpanich Dec 18 '19

Ugh, they’re like tripled the price of vape pods here. I smoked for 10 years and this is what helped me stop. I really wish they’d just like, allow it as a prescription so teenagers would stop using it and it’s stop being a big deal.