Why Counterfeit Vape Products Pose A Serious Risk

Over 300,000 people across Canada use a vaping product every day, and the amount who have used one in the last month is a lot larger. This rise in popularity has led to a lot of people trying to take advantage, and counterfeit vaping devices and e-juices seriously threaten to flood the market and worsen its reputation.

If you want to make sure what you’re buying is legit, here’s what you should look out for when purchasing vapes products like devices, spare parts, and e-juice.

Why Are Fake Vape Liquids Dangerous?

E-juice is a mixture of water, glycerol, propylene glycol, flavours and (most often) nicotine and this mix creates the vapour you inhale. These ingredients have to be carefully measured and monitored before it is put in a bottle, or else it could have seriously adverse effects on your health.

You can probably guess why fake vapes are so dangerous. Counterfeit e-liquid might have flavour and nicotine, but it is going to be either more or less than what they’ve slapped on the label – there’s just no way they can give an accurate number. Since you can’t know how much is in it careful monitoring, you can’t guarantee that anything you’ll be using will be safe.

But it’s more than just unknowable levels of nicotine and flavour. Counterfeit vape products could contain many other additives and impurities that are harmful for your health. In rare cases, there could even be drugs, but you wouldn’t know until it’s too late. Inhaling them can cause high blood pressure, heart rates to skyrocket, and in the worst case scenarios, tremors and seizures.

Fake Rigs And E-Cigs

Fake e-cigs and vaping rigs look like the real thing; they want you to think that it’s legit. The manufacturers of these cheap clone want it to look like the real deal, but they don’t actually care – and why should they? All the parts are made without accountability, from the mouthpiece to the packaging it’s shipped in. The quality of the vape will be bad, it might give off harmful fumes and residue, and you’ll have wasted money on a useless hunk of plastic and fake chrome.

You’re taking a gamble any time you purchase a vape product from a sketchy source, and the Internet has made it much easier to sell fake e-liquids and devices that skirt by official regulations. The spread products that have cheap prices, but fake labels and bad ingredients, is all too real. So how do you avoid counterfeit products?

What Should I Look For?

Avoiding counterfeits starts by not impulsively purchasing products based on what you think is a good price. You should only get your vapes from sources you know and trust, and avoid any online site promising too much. Don’t purchase off auction sites like eBay, and if you’re in doubt, ask the seller a lot of questions. Get very suspicious if you see rock-bottom prices – if it’s too good to be true, it most likely is!

For e-juice, look at the label. Legitimate e-juice has the ingredients list, a nicotine warning, batch IDs, an expiry date or “made on” date, certification labels, and an age restriction label. Look for all of these and more, and try to see the labels in person. If you like shopping online, buy from a registered, legitimate seller whose credentials you can confirm.

Many companies and governments are fighting back against counterfeit products, and the vaping industry is no exception. Always do your research, both of the products and the sellers, and don’t be dazzled by a low, low price. Enjoying a vape means being a conscientious consumer!