Difference Between Vaping and Smoking Difference Between Vaping vs Smoking Vaping vs. smoking: Long term effects, benefits, and risks Smoking versus Vaping Smoking cigarettes has long been proven to cause severe lung damage, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, and lung cancer. Over time, cigarette smoke destroys lung tissue, fills airways with tar, Half as many Britons' vape as smoke