Vaping as a Catholic?

[OneGod]

Hi everyone. I was basically raised in church but to be honest, it has been a while. I’m not sure if there’s someone here on these forums that’s qualified to answer this question but I’ll ask anyways. My question is whether it is okay to vape? To be more specific, I mean: is it a sin to vape nicotine? I was a long time smoker and after experiencing some health complications that I’m sure were in no small part related to smoking, I finally took the plunge and bought an e-cig instead. I’ve been using it for a while now, well over a year I think, and I’ve been wondering periodically how the church views vaping. Would love to hear everyone’s thoughts on the matter so please chime in!

For those wondering why I started vaping instead of smoking, let me just cut you off here and explain: I started vaping after reading numerous research papers indicating that vaping may be a lot less harmful. That’s basically it in a nutshell. Perhaps I’m wrong or maybe the researchers have it all wrong, but it seems like vaping is a much better option than smoking.

While we’re on the topic, is smoking a sin?

 

[s.cono]

I don’t think there is definitive proof either way regarding the safety of vaping. There are too many products out there that are not held up to any particular standard. You can buy products from abroad and then cross your fingers and hope that the wire used in the coil is free from any possible toxins that might enter your lungs when heated. Same with juices. I used to vape. A LOT. I always had that fear in the back of my mind. Is something going to come out 10 - 15 years from now about how safe vaping is over the course of a decade? I no longer vape. I would never consider smoking again, either.

 

[Dlee]

Many in my parish are smokers. One priest also smokes. I know folks urge him to quit for his health. Vaping, cigars, pipes? It seems to me the healthiest option is to not introduce anything into your lungs but the cleanest air possible.

 

[sancte_trinitatis]

(CCC 2290) “The virtue of temperance disposes us to avoid every kind of excess: the abuse of food, alcohol, tobacco, or medicine…”

Moderation.

 

[7_Sorrows]

I have read about fatalities associated with vaping. It is not something I would try Catholic or not.

 

[lilypadrees]

If our bodies are God’s temples, it stands to reason that we should not put anything harmful into them.

From a health standpoint, there’s much about vaping that is still unknown such as the long term consequences for those who vape. The experts say that it is more dangerous than smoking which is already known to be harmful.

My advice is not to smoke, not to vape, not to do anything harmful to your body.

 

[noahoscar986]

I dont think is there any concept or proof is present in nowadays, My mostly friends who are Catholic and mostly raised in a church they also do smoking and vaping also, in fact, they mostly buy from an eCig-City coupon, if they think its a sin why they do this?

 

[lilypadrees]

Your friends personally? Why don’t you ask them?

The Church? I’m not sure vaping as we know it, has been in the public eye long enough to have an official determination made.

E-cigarettes tho, have been shown to be more dangerous than regular cigarettes. Plus there’s the risk of them exploding.

Not a fan of the practice at all.

 

[Lionel_Beezus]

Even beyond the sense that vaping is likely harmful, the fact that you’re consuming an addictive drug (nicotine) seems to be the deciding factor here. Many things can become sinful if not used in moderation. Eating, for example, becomes the sin of gluttony if a person has the ability to control himself but chooses to let it affect their life.

With this in mind, it seems that any addictive drug that isn’t used for medicinal purposes is a reason for sin if consumed. Definitely consider this. I know that it might be a real struggle to give something like this up, so I wish you the best of luck.