VAPERS VOICES
Many adult South Africans have used vaping as a method to help them quit smoking and practice tobacco harm reduction.
Since the very beginning, VSML has invited people to share their experiences and what this innovation means to them.
Their stories should not be ignored.
Ricolen Rajaswar
Current Smoker:
No
Smoking Years:
16
Vaping Years:
5
Flavours:
Fruit
Vaping saved my life
Date Uploaded: 20210716
Craig Kirk
Age:
55
Current Smoker:
No
Smoking Years:
30
Vaping Years:
6
Flavours:
Like more than one type
Have been vaping since 2016 have not touched a cigarette since
Date Uploaded: 20220116
Clifton Hall
Age:
39
Current Smoker:
No
Smoking Years:
3
Vaping Years:
5
Flavours:
Breakfast/Bakery
The inflammation was terrible and the sench overall
Date Uploaded: 20220805
Anre Fourie
Age:
44
Current Smoker:
No
Smoking Years:
22
Vaping Years:
1
Flavours:
Fruit
I can walk in awesome smelling clouds every day of my Iife
Date Uploaded: 20210930
Raushan
Age:
33
Current Smoker:
No
Smoking Years:
14
Vaping Years:
5
Flavours:
Like more than one type
Many years ago, I was introduced to vaping. This came after many attempts to kick the cigarette habit. At the time, I did not know much about vaping and merely followed what someone else told me. There weren’t many options either. I started using hookah flavours as there variety of flavours were better for me and they were much more easily attainable. Then, approximately 2 years ago, I entered a vape store. I was surprised by how the industry had changed. And once I had tried it, I threw the hookah pipe away. I dont smoke anything anymore. I only vape. I vape a very low nicotine, which is from 1-3mg. There are many reasons why vaping has allowed me to remain smoke free, but I will merely mention two. 1. The flavour choices and intensity. And 2. The activities included in maintaining and customizing the devices. Vaping saved my life and improved it too. Thanks to vaping, my family will not have to be exposed to harmful second hand smoke. I have been saved from smoke related illnesses too. It’s simply amazing.
Date Uploaded: 20210715
Lilanie Schutte
Age:
40
Current Smoker:
No
Smoking Years:
16
Vaping Years:
8
Flavours:
Menthol/Mint
Date Uploaded: 20200702
Christel Truter
Age:
42
Current Smoker:
No
Smoking Years:
5
Vaping Years:
4
Flavours:
Fruit
I started smoking only when I went out and after meeting my now husband who was a smoker starting smoking more often then all day. I basically never get sick but started getting bronchitis yearly and I honestly hated the smell that goes with smoking. Your clothes and hair especially. I tried to just stop but did not succeed, tried Champix which worked a while my husband as well but just started again. Both my husband and I tried vaping and for 5 months I did not smoke at all only vaped. My husband struggled a while and started smoking again but after a lot of fighting he also decided to try again this time with a pod system and higher nicotine he managed to stop. He started with 25mg nic salts and is now mostly on 3mg. We both enjoy vaping and I am back to not getting sick except for the average nasal congestion once a year. I feel and smell much better!
Date Uploaded: 20220815
Anonymous User
Age:
34
Current Smoker:
No
Smoking Years:
16
Vaping Years:
3
Flavours:
Like more than one type
I tried vaping around 2011/2012, after smoking for about 6yrs or so. at the time vaping was still fairly new, flavours were limited and there were only selected MTL devices on the market, so the novelty wore off about a year or 2 later and a switched to hookah. Fast forward to 2020 (during the Covid19 pandemic) SA government decides to ban the sale of cigarettes (including hookah molasses) so I switched to vaping again, only this time, there are many more products available to choose from (including flavours). Vaping had evolved so much since the first time I tried it, that it now became a hobby (Collecting mods, RDAs and RTAs, building, DIY, etc). When I used to smoke cigarettes I often felt out of breath, my food never tasted nearly as good as it does now, I was underweight and I got sick a lot more frequently, but because I was addicted, it was really hard to quit. I think it’s safe to say I wouldn’t touch a cigarette again