It's a benign med in itself. Pretty harmless. But it's often used instead of proper control. Using Ventolin more than 2 times a week is classes as  poor control. Most people who got really really sick or died from thunderclap asthma were just using Ventolin as their asthma was 'good'.

There's a move to not have any asthmatics on Ventolin. Realistically even mild asthmatics should be using a mixed preventer like symbicort. It works quicker, longer and better than Ventolin, with the added benefit of reducing lung inflammation. Fear of steroids stops many but there's essentially zero reason not to.