34 Countries Ban the Sale of E-Cigarettes Amid Rising Popularity Among Youth

Watan-When e-cigarettes first appeared, experts described them as an alternative to traditional cigarettes. However, years after attracting millions of users, e-cigarettes have become an addiction that many find difficult to quit. How did e-cigarettes emerge, and why are they so hard to give up?

How Did E-Cigarettes Emerge?

In 2003, Chinese pharmacist Hon Lik successfully developed the first commercial e-cigarette as a way to help himself quit smoking after losing his father to lung cancer. Lik designed his device using a safer technology that replaced burned smoke with vaporized liquid. He patented his invention in 2007.

However, efforts to develop e-cigarettes predated Lik’s innovation by decades. According to the Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association (CASAA), the earliest documented reference to this concept dates back to American Joseph Robinson, who filed a patent in 1930. However, his design was never manufactured or marketed, and it remains unclear whether he even created a prototype.

In the 1960s, American Herbert Gilbert introduced a more advanced design that closely resembled modern e-cigarettes. He patented his invention in 1965, after presenting it in 1963. Although he created prototypes, they did not contain nicotine and failed to gain commercial traction.

Over the following decades, attempts to develop e-cigarettes continued until Hon Lik’s invention introduced the device in its modern form. The product entered European markets in 2006 before spreading to the United States and the rest of the world.

E-Cigarettes: A Safer Alternative?

When e-cigarettes first gained popularity, some experts considered them a safer smoking alternative, as they do not produce tar or carbon monoxide.

Also known as Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS), e-cigarettes mimic traditional cigarettes in appearance and usage but function by heating a liquid containing nicotine, water, glycerin, propylene glycol, and flavoring to generate an inhalable vapor.

Jean-François Etter, a professor of public health at the University of Geneva, argued that e-cigarettes are less harmful than traditional cigarettes since they do not produce tar or carbon monoxide. In a report by the American Psychological Association, he explained that although nicotine is addictive, its vaporized form does not pose significant health risks for adults, making e-cigarettes a potential option for those trying to quit smoking.

Similarly, David Abrams, a psychologist at the Schroeder Institute for Tobacco Research, wrote in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) (January 2014), “For the first time in a century, we have a real harm-reduction alternative, and there are indications that e-cigarettes may be a safe and appealing way to obtain nicotine.”

Despite these perspectives, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has yet to classify e-cigarettes as an official smoking cessation tool.

Why Is It Hard to Quit E-Cigarettes?

A report in Time magazine noted that while e-cigarettes were originally designed to help smokers quit, they have led to higher nicotine consumption compared to traditional cigarettes, making them difficult to give up.

Benjamin Toll, a professor at the Medical University of South Carolina, attributes this to the way e-cigarettes are designed. Unlike traditional cigarettes, which have a limited number of puffs before they are finished, e-cigarettes provide thousands of nicotine-filled inhalations, allowing for nearly continuous use.

Additionally, e-cigarettes do not require lighting, making them easier to use in places where smoking is typically banned. Toll pointed out that some users become so addicted that they keep their e-cigarettes under their pillow to use immediately upon waking up, leading to prolonged nicotine exposure.

He added, “Although many people turn to e-cigarettes to quit smoking, some find themselves unable to stop using them, worsening their addiction instead of reducing it.”

How to Quit E-Cigarettes?

Currently, 34 countries ban the sale of e-cigarettes, especially due to their growing popularity among children and teenagers.

A World Health Organization (WHO) report found that more 13-to-15-year-olds use e-cigarettes than adults in all WHO regions. This trend is fueled by aggressive marketing on social media and through influencers, with at least 16,000 different flavors available. Some products even feature cartoon characters and sleek designs to appeal to younger users.

The report emphasized that nicotine-containing e-cigarettes are highly addictive and harmful to health. While their long-term effects remain unclear, studies have shown that they produce toxic substances, some of which are linked to cancer, while others increase the risk of heart and lung diseases.

Moreover, e-cigarette use may negatively impact brain development in young people, cause learning difficulties, and pose risks to fetal development in pregnant women.

Although few tools are currently available to help users quit e-cigarettes, and the WHO has urged stricter regulations on their sale and marketing—especially to children—individuals can take steps to quit on their own.

Self-Help Strategies for Quitting E-Cigarettes:

1. Identify Your Reason for Quitting – Whether it’s for health, financial reasons, or another motivation, having a clear purpose can strengthen commitment.
2. Create a Plan – Gradually reduce e-cigarette use rather than quitting suddenly. Set a date to stop buying the product, even if you run out beforehand. Establish a timeline for quitting completely, even if it takes months.
3. Find Healthy Alternatives – Engage in lifestyle changes like exercise, yoga, or meditation. Chewing gum can also serve as a distraction from vaping.
4. Seek Support – Encourage friends to join the quitting process for motivation, or seek medical guidance and support groups specializing in nicotine addiction.
5. Celebrate Milestones – Reward yourself for progress, whether it’s reducing use or completely quitting. Small celebrations can reinforce positive behavior.