Truth or Fiction?

1. Vaping as a “Cure” for COVID-19

There have been several conspiracy theories related to vaping nicotine or e-liquids, particularly around their potential links to COVID-19. These theories are largely baseless, but they gained some traction during the pandemic. Here are a few notable examples:

Some conspiracy theorists promoted the idea that vaping nicotine or e-liquids could protect people from COVID-19 or even cure the virus.

2. The “Big Pharma” Conspiracy

This theory suggests that pharmaceutical companies (Big Pharma) are behind the push to demonize vaping in order to promote their own nicotine replacement products, such as patches or gums. Some believe that the negative press around vaping—such as the outbreak of lung injuries associated with vaping (EVALI) in 2019 or vaping’s association with worse COVID-19 outcomes—is exaggerated or fabricated to drive people away from e-cigarettes and toward more traditional nicotine products sold by pharmaceutical companies.

While pharmaceutical companies do make money from nicotine replacement therapies, there is no credible evidence that they are orchestrating a campaign to suppress vaping for profit. The health risks associated with vaping, particularly related to lung damage and addiction, have been studied and confirmed by independent researchers.

4. Government Cover-Up of Vaping’s Benefits

Another fringe theory posits that governments or health authorities are covering up potential benefits of vaping, such as its supposed ability to protect against COVID-19 or other diseases. Proponents of this theory claim that because nicotine might have anti-inflammatory effects or because some studies suggested smokers were underrepresented among hospitalized COVID-19 patients, vaping could actually be beneficial.