FYI
During the stages of “vaper-evolving,”
one should certainly expect to
experience a transformation protocol
that allows the arrival of a strong sense
of advocacy about vaping in general.
go after or “call-out” other Vape-related
businesses, but after realizing that child
safety is the main argument used by the
FDA to justify their harsh regulations, I
began to understand just how important
this was. Regardless, this is certainly
a topic worthy of an entirely separate
article.
Recovery.org, highlights a meaningful
quotation that fits perfectly in with
the concept that vaping serves as an
activity or lifestyle which can combat
substance abuse. When discussing the
road to recovery, it is clearly stated, “Do
activities that you enjoy and that make
you feel valid and important.” So, if an
addict were to embrace vaping, advance
themselves as a vaping hobbyist and
then become passionate to the point of
advocacy, this behavior will surely allow
them to feel valid and meaningful. Vaping
can give one’s life, ultimate purpose.
Given all of this information, there is one
man I’ve had the pleasure of having a
discussion with about my theoretical
concept who is a business owner within
the vaping industry as well as someone
who is approaching the solution of harm
reduction through vaping as well as a
“STOP Heroin” campaign. This man is
Jay Tower, owner of eXtreme vApes out
of Louisville, Kentucky. Jay is in recovery
from heroin addiction after the untimely
death of his son’s mother, Nicky Vigna
(1992-2013). He continues to stay clean
while growing his business. Therefore,
Jay serves as just one individual who
can attest to the art of vaping assisting
harm reduction in more than just tobacco
abuse.
When all’s said and done, the vaping
industry will not disappear. Sure, due
to it’s economic threat against Big
Business, such as Big Pharma and
Big Tobacco, the capitalist leaders
of industrial corporate conglomerate
will attempt to eradicate the smallbusinesses within the vaping industry.
However, harsh government regulations
will undoubtedly only create a Black
Market. The system tries to demonize
vaping by claiming their overreach of
authority is justifiable because they are
taking a firm stance by devoting their
position on regulations for the sake of
child safety. This is clearly an attempt
to misdirect the focus of their true
intentions.
Yet, not very many of our advocacy
groups in the vaping community would
agree that regulations need to be so
strict. I therefore suggest we continue to
research the concept of vaping being a
harm reduction approach as the primary
purpose for its existence. Additionally, I
urge researchers and
social scientists to
conduct research on
my sociological theory
that Vaping can help
assist opiate addicts
transition back to a
healthier lifestyle.
There are countless
societal conflicts we
will never be told or
never learn about and
for numerous reasons.
I can attest to this because I spent nearly
10 years in college, undergraduate and
graduate school ing where I must admit
I gained 75% of everything I know and
all of the skills I have acquired to learn
more . You must search beyond the
misinformation your local news station
tends to report or even the national news
channel on TV for where you absorb
your information.
Gathering pieces of information from
outside sources is vital to understanding
how the system you live in actually
operates. What exactly is it that the
powers that be cherish and worship?
What is most important to our leaders?
Is it our freedom? I’d like to think so,
yet I’m not so sure. After all, legendary
Sociologist Emile Durkheim once
wrote that “Liberty is, itself, a form
of regulation.” People are far more
obedient when they believe they are free
to earn their own living, but that does
not necessarily define the essence of
freedom.
Those who wish away vaping are merely
envious since they are still seeking their
route to righteousness when ours have
all been laid before us in the form of
vapor. The Bible states: “Life is like a
vapor. Here in an instant, gone the next.”
This can be interpreted in many different
ways in which I must refrain and stick to
our main topic. I’d just like to highlight
that I became aware of that Bible verse
around the time of my own Mother’s
sudden and tragic passing on November
4 2015. She was 59. Regardless,
discovering purpose and believing in
a cause are certainly necessary for an
overall healthier well-being. My Mother
taught me hope and faith by her own
example as she was indeed full of life
and filled with joy. Believe in something,
find your passion, remain passionate,
believe in yourself and good things will
eventually come your way.
A member of the vaping advocacy group,
VAPERSArmy, Dan Stegner shared his
view with me. “We all know about the
expression, once an addict always an
addict, this is because it’s true. So, it’s
all about finding something safer and
alternative to become addicted to and
while I’m a chain-vaper, still, now my
doctor gives me a clean bill of health
assessment every six months whenever
I see him over the last 4
years I’ve been vaping.
It is so obvious, as a
recovering addict from
opiates, vaping has
helped me recover in a
number of ways.”
The concept of
cognitive dissonance
is described as when
we’re more inclined to
soak up lies we agree
with than deal with
truths that make us question ourselves
and go through the unpleasant process
of holding two contradictory ideas in our
heads. An understanding that the mere
presence of something dangerous isn’t
necessarily a sign of genuine risk (for
example, you’re exhaling vapor right
now, NOT smoke). It is very difficult for
the majority of people to accept or fully
comprehend the introduction of shades
of grey into the common black-and-white
viewpoint many hold, which consists
of viewing “addiction is a bad thing.”
The problem is that harm reduction is
so much more of a difficult concept for
others to buy-into; it’s a tough act to sell,
plain and simple.
VAPOUROUND MAGAZINE ISSUE 07 163