Paul Danan’s Vaping Addiction – the hidden dangers of vaping obsession
With the tragic death of TV star Paul Danan, we are left to ask: how safe is vaping, and whether it could be even more addictive than cigarettes?
Paul Danan’s death at only 46 has been met with great sadness today. Those who knew the star described him as a rare and real person with a kind heart.
His recent struggle with pneumonia and ongoing issues with addiction have been implicated in his death. The blame for his health problems seems to be laid at the feet of a vaping addiction, which doctors warned him could lead to permanent injury or worse.
So how did vapes, which are often touted as a great step to help people stop smoking, cause pneumonia and a serious addiction in the Paul Danan?
Bright colours and attractive packaging are banned in cigarettes but not in vapes.
Paul’s vaping addiction
In June of last year, the Hollyoaks star was taken into ICU with pneumonia. The cause was a serious vaping addiction the star spoke publicly about the damage done to his lungs by using disposable vapes.
Paul struggled to stay alive in June and was told by doctors if he smoked or vaped again, he would need an oxygen tank for the rest of his life.
Mr Danan said he was ‘obsessed’ with his vapes and even went to sleep with them for comfort. There are strong signs that the star was addicted and dependent on the vape liquid to a dangerous degree.
His ADHD may also have played a part in this extreme behaviour and, sadly, his untimely death at only 46 years old.
What condition did Paul Danan have?
Paul’s condition was pneumonia when he went to the hospital, but several serious conditions are linked to pneumonia complications from smoking and vaping too much.
People who smoke excessively are much more likely to get pneumonia from a respiratory disease such as COVID, flu or a cold.
It is possible the pneumonia was linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or a similar disease where the lung has been damaged by exposure to stress from smoking.
Vaping-related lipoid pneumonia is different to infection pneumonia. It happens when fatty building blocks enter the lungs due to the oily liquids inside vapes. There is no treatment for VRLP, and sufferers must stop vaping and hope the lungs can heal themselves.
Vaping doesn’t suffer from the image problem of smoking, but it can be harmful and even more addictive than cigarettes.
Isn’t Vaping Better Than Smoking?
Vaping has been rising in popularity for years and is seen as a way to quit cigarettes and a healthier alternative. While there is mixed evidence on the use of reusable vapes vs smoking, disposable vapes are another story.
Disposable vape dangers
Disposable vapes have been banned in the UK, and the law will change on the 1st of June 2025 to protect children from getting hooked on them. The colourful packaging and low prices of these vapes led to children as young as primary school becoming addicted.
The level of nicotine in vapes is already restricted, but not all vapes are legal, and the ones sold on the streets can be much higher than a cigarette.
Should vapers be worried?
With high levels of nicotine available in illegal vapes and young people being attracted by enticing packaging, there is a real risk of vape addiction.
Always buy vapes and liquids from a reputable, legal supplier and avoid disposable vapes, which will shortly be illegal to sell in shops.
Paul Danan was vaping excessively, which may have led to his health problems. It is easy to become addicted to nicotine; it is a highly chemically and psychologically addictive substance.
Legal vaping may be safer than smoking cigarettes, but it would be a mistake to think it is not bad for your health. This is even more serious in young people, who are more vulnerable to addiction and health complications in their developing bodies.
ASH Smokefree GB Youth Surveys. 2014-2023.
Paul Danan’s Battle with Addiction
Vaping addiction isn’t the star’s first dependence. Paul had been in rehab 17 times, dealing with cocaine, codeine and heroin addictions throughout his acting career.
Stress from his work and the availability of addictive substances were some of the main reasons the actor gave for his addiction problems. He also suggested that he had been handed cocaine as a welcome gift when he started on Hollyoaks.
That wasn’t the end of the star’s woes with addiction, he also struggled with alcohol on his Celebrity Love Island spin-off and was involved in a drunken confrontation with another star and close friend, Calum Best.
Relapse and rehab
Although Paul was in recovery, he found himself relapsing during the 20202 COVID lockdowns and taking cocaine again. Despite attempts to detox himself with the help of friends, he ended up homeless before he was admitted to rehab in the Cotswolds.
In rehab, he was given medical and psychological support, and after more than three months, he finally seemed to be on the right path. Paul started working with local groups in Bristol to help at-risk people with workshops and education to prevent drug addiction.
The rehab he stayed in identified he had ADHD and provided him with the proper medication for it. This helped his recovery significantly and shows that a dual diagnosis of addiction and other mental health issues during rehab can make all the difference to your recovery.
The perils of ‘safer addictions’
From the 1930s to the 1950s, doctors prescribed cigarettes to patients, telling them it was good for their health.
Of course, this sounds ridiculous to us now, but there is a prevailing idea among people in recovery that smoking is the lesser of the addictions. You will find the smoking area outside of AA and NA (alcoholics & narcotics anonymous) meetings are often full.
Many addicted people think, ‘Well, smoking is all I have left!’ Paul Danan’s death can serve as a reminder that smoking and vaping can be lethal, just as other addictions. The perils of taking anything to extremes should not be taken lightly.
