Whereas e-cigarette use in teenagers has gone down in recent times, teenagers are nonetheless vaping regardless of nationwide insurance policies geared toward lowering nicotine vaping amongst adolescents.
The most recent information from 2024 reveals the share of teenagers who reported that they had ever vaped nicotine recurrently was:
- 9.6% for eighth grade college students (up from 4.7% in 2022),
- 15.4% for tenth grade college students (up from 8.7% in 2022), and
- 21% of twelfth grade college students (up from 15% in 2022).
Nicotine vaping is likely one of the most often abused substances in these grades.
What’s extra, the Journal of the American Medical Affiliation discovered that vaping in teenagers is linked to the next danger for beginning cigarette smoking and use, particularly in youths who’ve low risk-taking behaviors. Vaping may be a method for some adults to give up smoking, however for teenagers, it’s a strategy to begin.
Chances are high excessive that teenagers as we speak have been uncovered to e-cigarettes, thought of utilizing them, or have used them. So, what can dad and mom do to scale back the probabilities that their teenagers will flip to vaping?
As a pharmacist within the Drug and Poison Data Middle, I counsel studying all the things you possibly can about e-cigarettes after which having an sincere dialog together with your teen in regards to the dangers. Beneath are some information to get you began.
8 Information About Nicotine, E-Cigarettes and E-Liquids
FACT #1: E-CIGARETTES CONTAIN HARMFUL CHEMICALS
In keeping with smokefree.gov, e-cigarettes often comprise nicotine. This chemical has been proven to hurt mind growth not solely in kids, but in addition in younger adults into their early 20s.
E-cigarettes may additionally comprise different harmful substances, together with heavy metals like lead, cancer-causing chemical compounds, and small particles that get inhaled deep into the lungs.
FACT #2: Nicotine is very addictive
Nicotine is likely one of the most addictive substances and is extremely tough to cease utilizing. Dependence is predicated on elements equivalent to age, household or peer affect, genetics, medical historical past and extra.
The teenager mind is very vulnerable to the damaging and addictive results of nicotine, and the long-term results of e-liquids are usually not clear.
FACT #3: Nicotine in e-liquids can have an effect on the mind and coronary heart
Nicotine is a neurotoxic substance. Which means it might probably have an effect on the mind in a damaging method and trigger unwanted effects.
E-liquids are available in a wide range of nicotine concentrations. Taking in even small quantities of nicotine has the potential to be deadly to a small little one. Liquid nicotine may also be absorbed by the pores and skin. If a spill occurs when refilling the e-cigarette, it has the potential to be very harmful.
When liquid nicotine is unintentionally ingested, it might probably trigger vomiting and seizures. It can also have an effect on the guts.
FACT #4: DESPITE LAWS, E-CIGARETTES CAN STILL BE EASY TO GET
In 2019, the Tobacco 21 legislation went into impact. This legislation restricts the sale of tobacco merchandise in america to these over 21 solely. This consists of vapes.
Nevertheless, on-line and in-person shops could not all the time ask for identification, and on-line sellers of vaping units could not examine a buyer’s age on the time of sale.
FACT #5: E-cigarettes are available in brilliant colours and flavors
The brilliant colours, flavors and smells of e-liquids may be interesting to each teenagers and babies, making them appear innocent. If younger youngsters are within the house, hold e-cigarettes out of their attain. Many containers are usually not child-resistant.
In early 2020, the FDA restricted flavors in reusable e-cigarettes to simply menthol and tobacco. However the taste limits don’t apply to disposable e-cigarettes, that are nonetheless in the marketplace as we speak.
FACT #6: Nicotine supply may be discreet
It’s onerous to inform when somebody is utilizing an e-cigarette, as a result of they gained’t scent like tobacco. Vapes may appear to be a pen, key fob or flash drives. A more recent product in the marketplace is a vape pen that appears like a highlighter.
One other discreet nicotine product is oral nicotine pouches. These small, rectangular packets are positioned between the lip and gum, typically beneath the higher lip. Because the pouches dissolve, nicotine is launched from them into the bloodstream by the mouth. They’re obtainable in a wide range of flavors that will attraction to youth. Like e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches can comprise excessive ranges of nicotine.
FACT #7: E-cigarettes are BEING USED TO VAPE THC
Many younger folks additionally use vaping units to eat hashish merchandise. In 2024, almost 17.6% of twelfth graders reported that they vaped marijuana previously 12 months. (That is down from 20% in 2022.)
(Supply: Monitoring the Future, NIH)
FACT #8: SEVERE LUNG INJURIES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH E-CIGARETTE USE
The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention reported in February 2020 that greater than 2,800 folks have acquired an acute lung harm or died associated to using e-cigarettes. Learn this weblog publish for extra details about vaping and its influence on teenagers’ lungs.
When you have any considerations about your little one being uncovered to nicotine or every other dangerous substance, please name the Drug and Poison Data Middle at 1-800-222-1222. We will study extra about your little one and the state of affairs, and stroll you thru what to do subsequent.
Concerning the writer: Sheila Goertemoeller, PharmD, D.ABAT
Sheila Goertemoeller, PharmD, DABAT, ICPS, is a pharmacist and scientific toxicologist. She has greater than 20 years of expertise on the Drug and Poison Data Middle Hotline at Cincinnati Youngsters’s.