The health risks of using electronic cigarettes—also known as vaping—is the subject of an anti-smoking ad campaign by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), featuring harrowing personal stories from ex-smokers.
One poster ad features an ex-smoker named “Kristy” who tried to use e-cigarettes as a substitute for tobacco cigarettes but ended up doing both, and in the end suffered a collapse of her right lung.
“These former smokers are helping save tens of thousands of lives by sharing their powerful stories of how smoking has affected them,” said CDC Director Tom Frieden.
An e-cigarette is a battery-powered vaporizer with a heating element that atomizes a liquid nicotine solution derived from tobacco plants.
E-cigarettes have been in vogue for the past few years, being touted as a healthier alternative to tobacco smoking and a way to wean off the habit. Vaping rates have reached record highs as traditional smoking continues to decline, and now high school students are more likely to vape than to smoke.
