Vaping has evolved beyond simple nicotine delivery, creating specialized techniques within user communities. One such method is known as “ghosting,” which alters the typical inhalation and exhalation process. Ghosting is a specialized technique that focuses on manipulating the visibility of the exhaled aerosol by modifying how vapor is handled immediately after a puff.
Defining the Technique
Ghosting a vape, often called the “ghost inhale,” refers to a specific trick where the user causes a ball of vapor to momentarily float outside the mouth before quickly pulling it back in. The name comes from the fleeting, “ghostly” appearance of the vapor cloud just before it vanishes. This technique focuses on the visual illusion of the cloud disappearing.
The process centers on creating a dense, cohesive ball of aerosol that can be easily manipulated. This maneuver requires a mouth-to-lung (MTL) draw, meaning the vapor is held in the mouth cavity and not immediately inhaled into the lungs. The goal is to achieve a brief, controlled release and immediate recapture of the vapor, focusing more on skill and timing than maximizing chemical absorption.
Mechanics of Execution
Successfully performing the ghost inhale begins with taking a slow, steady draw from the vaping device, allowing the aerosol to pool in the mouth without being drawn into the lungs. The vapor is held in the mouth for two to three seconds, allowing it to cool and thicken slightly into a denser cloud. Deep lung inhales are avoided because they would disperse the vapor too much to form the necessary cohesive ball.
To release the vapor, the user gently pushes it out using their tongue, often while shaping their mouth into a tight “O” shape, without actively exhaling. This technique creates a distinct, ball-shaped cloud that floats a short distance away from the mouth. The final step is the “snap inhale,” where the user quickly inhales the floating vapor ball back into the mouth and lungs, completing the illusion of the cloud vanishing.
Unique Health Considerations
While the ghost inhale trick involves only a brief mouth-hold, the goal of making vapor “disappear” is often associated with stealth vaping, which involves a prolonged breath hold. Extended breath-holding poses unique health implications. When the aerosol is retained for a significantly longer time, it dramatically increases the efficiency with which the lungs absorb nicotine, propylene glycol (PG), and vegetable glycerin (VG).
Prolonged breath-holding facilitates greater retention of the aerosol within the respiratory tract, maximizing the deposition of fine particles deep into the lung tissue. This maximized absorption increases the body’s exposure to potentially toxic substances, including flavor chemicals or trace heavy metals. The retention rate for nicotine is maximized when the aerosol is held in the lungs for an extended duration.
Increasing the duration of contact between the aerosol and the lung surface increases the likelihood of concentrated delivery of chemicals to the alveoli. This is concerning because the fine and ultrafine particulate matter in the aerosol can bypass the upper respiratory system’s natural defense mechanisms. The health risks are related to the physiological consequences of maximizing the uptake of the vapor’s constituents.