Why Vape is Denied as Cigarette Addiction Replacement

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Due to its enormous campaign, some may believe that swapping from cigarette smoking to vaping is an alternative that can help a person ditch their smoking habit. 

However, Chairman of the Indonesian Respiratory Association (PDPI), Agus Dwi Susanto, is not a believer in the aforementioned movement and denies that vape can replace and eventually drop people’s habit towards smoking. 

“The World Health Organization (WHO) does not recommend vape and its use to quit cigarette smoking,” said Agus Dwi in a media gathering at the Health Ministry in Jakarta on January 15.

He said there are two reasons that back the statement and the first is due to effectivity. WHO records suggest 75 percent of people who vape could not let go of their addiction. 

“So, the ads that commercials and research refer to the other 25 percent. This means that only the minimum success rate is being highlighted,” said Agus. 

Moreover, on letting go of smoking addiction, Agus said that there are eight criteria used by the WHO to authorize a method in letting go of smoking addiction. Some of them mention about scrapping a person’s smoking habit cannot involve activities that may increase health risks in its uses. 

“Electronic cigarettes cannot comply with the WHO’s criteria. That is why vape is not recommended,” said Agus Dwi Susanto.

Sarah Ervina Dara Siyahailatua