Key takeaways
- Vapes differ from cigarettes in usage.
- Puffs in a vape aren't equal to the number of smoked cigarettes
- Legal pharmacy vapes are cessation tools.
- Pharmacy vapes follow strict manufacturing standards.
- Vaping's effectiveness surpasses traditional NRT products.
Have you tried nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products during your stop-smoking journey, but felt they weren’t as effective as you’d hoped? If that’s the case, your next option might be to look into pharmacy-prescribed nicotine vaping products (NVPs).
The media often talks about these as being able to match, or even exceed, the satisfaction you’d get from a pack of cigarettes.
However, it’s completely normal to wonder if they can really help you resist the urge when you miss the habit of smoking.
At this point, you might be asking yourself, “How many packs of cigarettes are in a vape?” Let’s explore that and clear things up.
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How Many Packs of Cigarettes Are in a Vape?
Is one vape equivalent to a pack of cigarettes?
The truth is, it’s an apples-to-oranges type of comparison because their usage is vastly different.
Recall the time you’ve lit a cigarette – whenever you light one, you finish it.
Vaping products work very differently, as you only use them sporadically to ease your nicotine cravings.
Hearing from the media that vapes can contain up to 200 cigarettes can sound scary, but this is primarily in relation to the amount of puffs. If you aren’t smoking 200 cigarettes in a row, you won’t be vaping that much either.
Pharmacy vapes contain (roughly) the same number of puffs as 20 cigarettes, meaning they’ll last you around the same amount of time as 20 cigarettes, albeit at around $12.50 rather than $40.
Not so scary sounding when you think about it logically.
What is a Nicotine Vaping Product (NVP) and how does it work?
An NVP, whether you call it a vape or an electronic cigarette, is designed to replicate the sensation of smoking by producing a vapour for you to inhale.
The main difference, though, is that unlike traditional cigarettes, vapes don’t create the harmful and carcinogenic smoke that comes from burning tobacco.
Vapes might come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, but at the end of the day, they all share the same basic components.
Every vape has a battery, a heating element (sometimes called a coil), and a tank or cartridge filled with a nicotine-containing liquid.
When you switch on your NVP, the battery powers the heating element, which then heats the liquid and turns it into vapour for you to inhale.
It’s a clever way of delivering nicotine without the dangerous smoke, but understanding how it works is a crucial first step if you’re thinking about making the switch from smoking.
The difference between illegal and legal vapes
Have you ever wondered why there are both legal and illegal NVPs (nicotine vaping products) and what sets them apart? It’s important to know these differences before you start using them as part of your smoking cessation journey.
Recently, there have been reports about children as young as five getting hold of illegal vapes, and these unregulated products have been turning up in local convenience stores.
Unfortunately, these shops often continue to sell these risky items despite the safety concerns.
One possible reason for this issue is that the availability of trusted, pharmacy-approved options isn’t always highlighted in the news. As a result, many people might not be aware that there are safer, regulated alternatives.
Pharmacy-issued NVPs are designed specifically for responsible adult smokers looking to quit and are a much safer choice.
Now, let’s learn more about the differences between illegal and legal vapes, and figure out how to spot them.
About Illicit NVPs
Illicit NVPs (such as those in convenience stores and tobacconists) are imported under the radar, just like illicit tobacco and drugs, and are made as cheaply as possible for maximum profits. Remember: if it’s not sold in a pharmacy, it’s illegal.
Illict NVPs are not designed to help you stop smoking – the companies that make them want to get as many people as possible addicted, and keep them addicted. It’s the reason why they have colourful packages and candy-like flavours – to entice a brand-new generation of nicotine addicts.
Also, many of these may also state that they’re ‘nicotine-free’, which is a fabrication. Tests have shown that they may actually still contain it.
Fortunately, these illegal NVPs will soon become a thing of the past. Illegal vaping products imported from overseas and sold without a prescription are now banned, with large numbers of these now being seized at the border and inside illicit retail locations.
About Pharmacy NVPs
NVP products sold in pharmacies are made under stringent pharmaceutical standards on the manufacturing process and ingredients, are toxicologically assessed for inhalation, are locally insured, and are specifically designed to help you stop smoking.
With strict standards and a focus on smoking cessation, NVPs sold in pharmacies function as vaping was intended to be – a tool to help stop smoking. Currently, pharmacy vapes are a second-line solution to nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) lozenges, gums, and inhalers.
There is also strong evidence that these perform far better than NRT products. The latest Cochrane Review found high-certainty evidence that NVPs are more effective than NRT in helping people stop smoking
Summary
In the end, comparing vaping to smoking is similar to comparing apples and oranges – they’re vastly different, and the best way to maximise a vape is to use it for smoking cessation whenever you feel the urge to smoke.
You’re probably here because you want to learn more about how many packs of cigarettes are in a vape. You’re in the right place.
Smokefree Clinic gives you access to many medically reviewed and trustworthy resources that can inform and aid you in your path to wellness, so have a look around!
If you’re ready to get started, Smokefree can connect you to Australian healthcare professionals who excel in helping patients quit smoking for good.
Link Reference:
- https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/aussie-kindergarteners-caught-in-vaping-trend-principal-claims/news-story/ee3b6b89457c9e6e089b535abe89170b
- https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=7726&context=etd
- https://news.sky.com/story/australia-to-ban-recreational-vaping-in-crackdown-on-e-cigarettes-12871092
- https://www.cochrane.org/news/latest-cochrane-review-finds-high-certainty-evidence-nicotine-e-cigarettes-are-more-effective