Beyond the Smoke and Vapour

The cloud disappears. But does everything in it disappear with it?

Picture a Friday evening in Accra. Friends have finished classes or work and are meeting up to relax, listen to music and catch up. In some social settings, a colourful vape or a flavoured shisha pipe may be part of the experience. The sweet smell, attractive designs and thick clouds can make these products look harmless, especially when they are shared among friends. But beneath the smoke and vapour lies an important question: what are we actually putting into our bodies?

One major concern is nicotine and exposure to harmful substances.

Vaping and shisha are different, but they have an important similarity. Vaping uses an electronic device to heat a liquid and produce an aerosol that is inhaled. The liquid may contain nicotine, flavourings and other chemicals. Shisha, also known as hookah or waterpipe smoking, commonly involves heating tobacco or other materials using charcoal. The smoke is then drawn through water before it is inhaled.

Although the two work differently, both can expose the lungs to substances that may be harmful to the body.

When a person vapes or smokes shisha, substances in the aerosol or smoke enter the lungs. Some can then pass into the bloodstream and reach other parts of the body. One major concern is nicotine. With repeated exposure, the brain can become accustomed to nicotine, leading to cravings and dependence.

For young people, this matters because the brain is still developing. Nicotine exposure can affect processes involved in attention, learning, mood and impulse control. Shisha presents additional concerns because tobacco smoke contains harmful substances, while the charcoal used to heat shisha can produce carbon monoxide and other toxic compounds.

But isn't shisha safer because the smoke passes through water? It may seem that the water cleans the smoke before it reaches the lungs. However, the water does not remove all the harmful substances. It mainly cools the smoke before it is inhaled. Water does not turn harmful smoke into harmless air.

Vaping also has its own misconception. The word vapour can make it sound harmless, but the cloud produced by a vape is an aerosol, not simply water vapour. A sweet flavour does not make nicotine safe, and a colourful device does not make its contents harmless. A cloud that disappears does not mean that everything inhaled was harmless.

For young people in Ghana, making informed choices starts with asking questions before taking the first puff. Whether at a social gathering in Accra, relaxing with friends after lectures, or simply curious because someone nearby is vaping or smoking shisha, do not let curiosity or peer pressure make the decision for you. Find out what the product contains and whether it contains nicotine.

If you already use these products and want to stop, speak to a healthcare professional or a trusted person who can support you. Friends can also help by supporting someone who wants to quit rather than encouraging continued use. Parents, schools, universities and youth groups can create spaces for honest conversations about vaping, shisha and nicotine without shame or misinformation.

We do not have to wait until experimentation becomes dependence before taking the issue seriously.

The cloud may disappear, but the exposure does not necessarily disappear with it.

Know what you inhale. Think before you try it. Protect your lungs, your brain and your future.