Survey: 82% of Vapers Are Ex-Smokers

Ask anyone on the street about vaping and nine times out of ten, they won’t be able to tell you what the demographic is for vapers. Some might mistakenly say that the industry is marketed to children or young adults. Others wouldn’t even know where to start with vaping demographics.

But would you really be surprised to hear that 82 percent of all vapers are ex-smokers who are in the process of quitting smoking altogether? Probably not, as vaping is known to be one of the best alternatives for former smokers looking to quit. However, there is new evidence that is proving that vaping is not a trend, but an actual alternative to those who are having trouble quitting smoking.

As reported by Interfax-Ukraine, a nationwide survey showed that 82 percent of respondents to the survey remarked that they had indeed been smokers of conventional cigarettes. Though a wide variety of reasons for switching to vaping were cited, those polled showed that just less than eight percent of vapers continued to smoke traditional cigarettes.

This flies in the face of many of the previously reported statements that vaping is bringing in a demographic that has never vaped or smoked before. In fact, vapers often warn non-vapers away from the community, citing that the industry is primarily for those who are looking for a healthier way to quit smoking. For former smokers, vaping is the only viable way out of their traditional smoking habit.

Even with all the good news, vaping is still categorized as a tobacco product. Even so, the teenage demographic is seeing a downturn since the mainstreaming of vaping. More teenagers are experimenting with vaping at a 0 mg nicotine level, cutting off a potential rise in traditional smokers at a tender age, when smoking habits begin.

The CDC ran a study last year that shows that 13.4 percent of high school students reported using vape products instead of conventional cigarettes. This means that a high percentage of young people are being shielded from cigarettes and tobacco, lowering the percentage of the population who may become addicted to tobacco products.

So what does this mean? It means that vaping is not a trend, it is a step away from a harmful habit. It is a way for smokers who want to quit to do so without withdrawal effects or expensive medications or drugs. And it is a way for a community to rally around each other and keep themselves from turning back to cigarettes.

So let this show you that vaping has a place. It is a necessary step in allowing people to quit smoking with dignity. That dignity is something we all deserve, so keep fighting for what you believe in.