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.
Donovan Gregg
Current Smoker:
No
Smoking Years:
1
Vaping Years:
3
Flavours:
Fruit
I started vaping because I found it totally and completely less harmful and less dangerous than cigarettes smoking and it much more less harmful when your in your friends compaion or chatting with friends or family
DelaRey Steyn
Age:
35
Current Smoker:
No
Smoking Years:
21
Vaping Years:
5
Flavours:
Tobacco
I started smoking in my last year of primary school. As an Asthma sufferer, this impacted my overall health severely. A couple of years back a friend introduced me to vaping. I managed to quit smoking with a fruity flavored juice, Panama from Wiener Vape. I see the positives from switching to vaping everyday, I can feel it in my overall health. I recently recovered from Covid-19 and I am convinced that I would have have had a much worse experience, had I still been a smoker. VAPING HAS SAVED MY LIFE!
Date Uploaded: 20220120
Adrian Voerman
Age:
33
Current Smoker:
No
Smoking Years:
11
Vaping Years:
2
Flavours:
Dessert
Instead of smelling like tobacco and smoke, I now smell like Vanilla exercise for harder and for longer because my lungs can handle it. smile more. I am a better lover I think more clearly I wake up with a clear chest and clear mind and I feel I have more to offer the world.
It was the best decision l ever made, and three years later I am still enjoying the benefits with every single out of my vape.:
Date Uploaded: 20200703
Grant Difford
Age:
35
Current Smoker:
No
Smoking Years:
13
Vaping Years:
5
Flavours:
Drinks
5 years ago, I could hardly breathe. I would cough and wheeze all day long due to tobacco smoke. Now, thanks to vaping, my lungs are healthy again, I can breathe, play sports and get on with life
Date Uploaded: 20210624
Dreshan Naidoo
Age:
30
Current Smoker:
No
Smoking Years:
2
Vaping Years:
9
Flavours:
Like more than one type
Used to be a heavy hubbly smoker. Quit that and turned to vaping and never looked back.
Date Uploaded: 20210220
Zaheer Cassim
Age:
36
Current Smoker:
No
Smoking Years:
8
Vaping Years:
6
Flavours:
Dessert
I was smoking a pack of cigarettes a day before I quit and started vaping. I initially vaped very high nicotine (18mg) but now vape 1.5mg nicotine dessert e-liquid.
My health has changed and became so much better since I started vaping. With cigarettes, I used to get sick atleast 5-6 times a year. Since I started vaping, I only get sick from time to time so my immunity has become much stronger (even with Covid).
I lost 2 family members to Covid due to them smoking heavily whereas me and many others who vape were hardly affected. If that is not proof in the pudding then I don’t know what is.
Date Uploaded: 20230725
Anri Wessels
Age:
31
Current Smoker:
No
Smoking Years:
15
Vaping Years:
2
Flavours:
Fruit
I started smoking when I was 16 years old. A dumb decision by an equally dumb child. Once the tobacco industry has you in your teen years, the likelihood of you quitting is zero to none without extreme effort. I honestly don’t know an adult person who decided to start smoking later in their life. I’ve been struggling on and off for 15 years to quit and the longest I’ve quit was 9 months, and it was with the help of a vape. Even when I picked up cigarettes again (which was a stupid decision on my part) my intake went down from 2 packs to 1 pack of cigarettes a day. My nicotine intake has gone from 12mg to 3mg in 2 years and my long term plan is to get off vaping entirely by next year. I also rarely vape and I can easily leave it at home when running errands or going for a quick visit. I’ve not picked up a cigarette in 3 months now and I intend to stick to that. If it wasn’t for vaping, I honestly don’t know what I would have done. I probably would still be smoking 2 packs of cigarettes a day. Also the flavours helps so much. The taste of burning tobacco is absolutely revolting and while I don’t mind other people liking a tobacco vape flavour, I can’t stand the smell or taste of it anymore, so removing other flavours would be detrimental to so many people. I think the point of having different flavours is to actually get away from that tobacco taste that keeps you hooked. And it’s definitely helped me. When I was smoking, I could hardly breathe or walk up stairs and I used to wake up at night, coughing my lungs out and not being able to breathe for several hours. I sleep and breathe much better now and it feels like I can breathe deeply, whereas before I had very shallow breathing. I can also breathe through my nose now and my smokers cough is completely gone. I used to have horrible pains in my chest as well and that’s all gone. My skin looks better, my energy levels are up and I am less moody. Vaping has truly made my life and health so much better.
Date Uploaded: 20221012
Yolandie Biela
Age:
42
Current Smoker:
No
Smoking Years:
1
Vaping Years:
4
Flavours:
Dessert
Had always an issue with ny sinuses but since I have started vaping I have no more issues
Date Uploaded: 20220120