Vaping
What is it?
- Vaping is the act of inhaling a vapor created from an electronic cigarette or e-cigarette.
- E-Cigarettes are referred to as vapes and are battery operated devices that heat a liquid solution until it turns into an aerosol that is inhaled. The liquid typically contains nicotine. These devices can look like regular cigarettes, but they also can look like pens or toys making it difficult for to detect by adults if used by youth. There are over 15,500 flavored e-liquids available and many sweet and tasty flavors are appealing to the youth. (9)
Are they Dangerous?
These vaping devices contain nicotine which is highly addictive neurotoxin. The amount of nicotine in a vape cartridge is the same amount as smoking one entire pack of cigarettes. Smoke exhaled from the e-cigarette is thought to be harmless water vapor. but that is not true. Although the emissions from the vapor have less carcinogens then traditional cigarettes, the aerosol emissions have been found to have at least 10 chemicals that are known to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. It can also damage the lungs, increase acid reflux, and cause heart palpitations.
E-cigarettes and Youth
The flavored products are very enticing to children. According to Monitoring the Future study 40% of students in 8th and 12th grades said that they used them because of the flavors tasting good. Some of the devices look like USB drives or pens making them very easy to hide from adults and the sweet flavors makes the smell of vaping also easy to hide.
Not only is the e-cigarettes getting kids hooked on nicotine early, but it is also very dangerous to young children who accidentally come in contact with the e-liquids. Liquid nicotine is very dangerous if ingested or absorbed through skin. just 1/4 of a teaspoon liquid nicotine can be fatal to a 50 lb child. There as been a 145% increase in poison control calls involving e-cigarettes and liquid nicotine. (5)
The human brain develops until about the age of 25 and nicotine addiction can lead to poor cognitive functions for youth who become addicted. According to Know the Risks, "Each time a new memory is created or a new skills is learned, strong connections are built between brain cells." Young people's brains build these connections faster than adults and because addiction is a form of learning, young people will get addicted more easily than adults. The nicotine in e-cigarettes and other tobacco products have been found to be a gateway to addiction of other substances as well (8).