Alternative Perspectives on E-Cigarettes: A Harm Reduction Approach

Since its introduction in 2007, electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have been consistently regarded in South Korea as merely a new form of tobacco product and, by extension, as an adversary in public health discourse. However, e-cigarettes are far more complex than such a unilateral perspective suggests. While nicotine is the addictive component in tobacco, it is not the primary culprit behind smoking-related leading causes of death, including cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cardiovascular diseases. These are primarily caused by tar and carbon monoxide. Vaping, the act of inhaling vaporized liquid containing nicotine, offers a significantly less toxic alternative to combustible tobacco. This article aims to examine the ongoing controversies surrounding nicotine