By Veronica Beltran

tired of misconception

TYH: Vape shop speaks out about negativity surrounding vaping

Oct 8, 2019 | 8:30 AM

Vaping has been getting quite the negative impact recently with illnesses related to vaping popping up across the US and now in Canada.

We wanted to hear from a local vape store on how the negativity is impacting them, so we headed over to VapouRevolution where we caught up with General Manager, Michael Williams. He says he is frustrated with the misconception on the subject, “It’s really ironic that smoking itself kills over 30,000 people a day in North America, now that people are starting to get sick from a black-market, unregulated industry…now all of the sudden we are starting to demonize the industry that has helped millions of people quit smoking. It’s unfair,” he told us.

VapouRevolution General Manager, Michael William says he is frustrated with the way vaping is being portrayed recently.

Williams told us that the vaping industry was created to help smokers quit smoking and that people incorrectly using the devices, or using THC cartridges with the device are the ones risking getting ill, “this is not the industry I stand behind…and associate myself with,” he told us. “What people really need to focus on…is the unregulated market that is making people sick,” said Williams.

The Centres for Disease Control says that as of October first there have been around, 1,080 injury cases associated with e-cigarettes, or vaping products in the US. According to them, the latest findings suggest that products containing THC have played a role in the recent outbreak, however, some were attributed to only nicotine use.

New Awards Program

Prince George City Council to discuss Citizen Recognition Medal Program Monday

1h ago

Missing Trio

Fort St. John RCMP looking for missing father and two children

5h ago

Caledonia Nordic Ski Club

Caledonia Nordic Ski Club prepare for another big national biathlon competition

22h ago

Although vaping might be the healthier option for smokers, it doesn’t come without some health effects, “for short term there can be coughing, sneezing, increased heart-rate, worsening if you have asthma-like symptoms, and long-term we’ve seen individuals with lung disease, heart disease and there is a chance with cancer,” said Lindsay Willoner, Regional Nursing Lead Tobacco Reduction for Northern Health.

As for the popularity amongst teens, “I wouldn’t necessarily say that it’s become popular amongst teens in high school, because when I was in high school the cool thing was to smoke cigarettes…so you’re just picking one problem and putting it with another,” said Williams.

Williams says that the business he stands behind is the one aimed at helping smokers quit smoking. VapouRevolution says they have seen a decrease in profits of around 40 percent.