I think this is just a case of correlation doesn’t equal causation.

People in higher socioeconomic groups tend to consume mind-altering substances in smaller quantities, and often don’t consume the more harmful ones (i.e. cigarettes) at all. Largely because higher socioeconomic status is correlated with higher quality of life and less need to “cope”. As a result the negative affects are seen as less of a downside since the short-term positive mental effects are more impactful to those who have a lower quality of life.

In lesser words, people who have shitty lives are more likely to opt for less healthy habits to lessen suffering in the short term, despite increased risk of long term side effects.

Most people couldn’t care less if the person smoking on the corner is wealthy or poor. It’s gross either way.

the hate is about teens who vape as a trend and how marketers did that intentionally with bright colours and fruity flavours and young attractive celebrities popular with teens younger people were less likely to smoke every year more and more disgusted by it then scumbag marketers took vapes and turned them into a trend and now kids are back to smoking it’s better sure but it’s still bad and most vapers aren’t doing it to quit smoking eventually or even just to atleast switch to vapes most started with vaping vapes aren’t just a better alternative to cigarettes and maybe a path to quitting anymore they’re now the tobacco industries rebrand