An international doctor and specialist in tobacco treatment encouraged the Philippines to be open in educating Filipinos about the benefits of vaping as a way to stop smoking.

Contradicted by many Filipinos, the presence of vaping in the country was seen as an ‘unhealthy habit’ related to smoking.

Hence, based on previous research, vaping is not as unhealthy as traditional smoking is to the body, and this is an effective way to stop smokers from taking conventional cigarettes.

In an experimental study done by the United Kingdom Health Security Agency, they have shown how smoking traditional cigarettes has a negative impact on the lungs compared to using e-cigarettes.

This research was then supported by Dr. Colin Mendelsohn, an Australian general practitioner, and tobacco treatment doctor, saying that vaping is an effective way to stop smokers from taking traditional cigarettes.

“Vaping was not a silver bullet, but it helped many of my smoking patients quit, notably many who had previously failed with all other treatments,” Mendelsohn wrote in his book titled “Stop Smoking, Start Vaping.”

He also explained that vaping can help individuals get away from enjoying the nicotine that they crave due to smoking without leaving tons of toxins in the body.

With the mentioned benefits of vaping to the health of smokers, Dr. Mendelsohn encouraged the Philippines to take a step forward in educating Filipinos about its healthy contribution.

“Message should be [delivered] very clear to the community that vaping is not smoking. What kills people is when you burn tobacco and you create smoke and there’s no smoke and tobacco in vaping,” the expert said.

In relation to this, Dr. Mendelsohn also emphasized the big help of the media to balance the reportage when it comes to vaping and smoking to further educate the community.

Starting the movement of switching smokers to using vapes, the expert envisioned that someday the country will also be more open to this topic, just like New Zealand, Canada, and the United Kingdom.