According to the CDC, 2,051 cases of vaping related to lung injury and 39 deaths have occurred as of Nov. 5 in the U.S. These numbers are frightening, and most can agree that some action should be taken. However, these incidents seem to be isolated to the U.S. even though in places like the U.K. vaping is just as popular, these incidents aren’t seen at all. 

In other countries, vaping is tightly regulated for purity and health standards. This is a stark contrast to the U.S.’s more ‘prohibition-type’ standpoint on vaping. This prohibition leads to more black market products that are completely unchecked, meaning more dangerous substances and devices being used, causing more illness and death. 

Many public officials seem to be focused on banning vaping. With the constant news coverage and horror stories being portrayed in the media, it’s no surprise that vaping is in the public spotlight. However, in the U.S., approximately 500,000 people died from smoking last year, a number that makes the vaping deaths seem insignificant, but politicians and the public don’t seem to be focused on banning cigarettes. 

In the U.K., government public health organizations encourage that smokers switch to vaping, citing that vaping is at least 95% less harmful than smoking, according to Public Health England. This is a stark contrast to public health organizations in the U.S. condemning vaping. 

With other countries as an example, it shows that the U.S. isn’t doing what is best when it comes to vaping for public health. Rather than focusing on banning vaping, our politicians should focus on regulating it.