Youth ‘jumpstart’ “choefs” despite toxic risks

Health professionals have raised alarm over a growing and dangerous trend among young people who tamper with or “jump” disposable vapes (commonly referred to on the street as “choefs”) that have depleted.

This allows users to continue to inhale residual substances past the devices’ lifespan.

In an interview with Desert FM, a Katutura youth, whose identity is withheld for safety reasons, described how young people interfere with vape devices to prolong their use, often driven by affordability and addiction issues.

Dr Leonard Nambala, a general practitioner, says from a clinical perspective, jumped vape devices pose both immediate and long-term public health risks.

“Once a vape device is tampered with, it becomes an electrical and chemical hazard. We see overheating, short-circuiting and in some cases battery explosions. These can cause burns to the mouth, face or hands and acute inhalation injuries. These are not minor incidents, they are medical emergencies,” Nambala says.

He warned that overheating causes vape liquid to burn instead of vaporise, releasing toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde and acrolein, which damages lung tissue.

According to Nambala, patients who use altered devices may experience coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea and palpitations shortly after use.

“Some young patients arrive with symptoms resembling asthma, pneumonia or even panic attacks. Only later do we discover vaping or battery tampering as the underlying cause,” he says.

Nambala adds that damaged vapes can release toxic metals such as lead, nickel and chromium, which are inhaled deep into the lungs and linked to long-term organ toxicity.

“This risk is significantly higher in tampered devices than in those used as designed,” he says.

He also cautioned that nicotine exposure during adolescence interferes with brain development and increases the risk of addiction and mental health problems.

Physician Dr Ismael Katjitae warned that vaping, whether altered or not, still introduces cancer-causing substances into the body. “There may be less carcinogenic material compared to cigarettes, but it’s still there. When it comes to cancer-causing elements, it’s not about quantity, it’s about triggers,” he said.

Meanwhile, some Katutura youth that spoke to The Namibian say that once “choefs” have depleted and been interfered with, they can be resold informally for around N$50, creating a small but risky underground trade.

Another youth from Khomasdal claims that users often feel “no immediate difference” after inhaling from tampered devices, a perception doctors say is misleading and that repeated exposure increases inflammation, reduces lung capacity and raises the risk of chronic respiratory disease, especially in developing lungs.

A Khomasdal youth says, “You feel a slight burning sensation when smoking a jumped air pop, but nothing too serious, after a while you get used to it.”

Dr Katjitae issued a stark warning to young people: “Stay away from this. You may not see the damage in 10 years, but in 20 or 30, it will show and by then, it’s too late.”

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