YOUTH AND E-CIGS A Dangerous Mix By SARAH SHAPIRO, Tobacco Prevention Health Educator
arning! A new Surgeon General’s report has concluded that electronic cigarettes are not safe for young people. Electronic cigarettes, also known as “vapes,” “e-cigarettes,” or “hookahs,” are devices used to inhale nicotine, flavor, and other additives into the lungs. They come in different sizes and colors and often don’t resemble typical tobacco products. They also may contain other drugs, like marijuana. Nicotine and other chemicals in electronic cigarettes are dangerous to everyone, but especially to youth, pregnant women, and fetuses. That’s because nicotine has been shown to harm the developing brain. According to the Surgeon General’s report, no amount of nicotine is safe for youth. The report also states that electronic cigarettes contain “ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs, flavorants such as diacetyl, a chemical linked to serious lung disease, volatile organic compounds, and heavy metals, such as nickel, tin, and lead.” The aerosol from electronic cigarettes is harmful to bystanders as well as to those who use them directly. Even though research shows that electronic cigarettes are
dangerous, they are still the most commonly used nicotine product among youth. “In 2015, more than 3 million youth in middle and high school, about 1 of every 6 high school students, used e-cigarettes in the past month,” the surgeon general wrote. “More than a quarter of youth in middle and high school have tried e-cigarettes.” Research is proving that youth who use electronic cigarettes are also more likely to move on to traditional cigarettes later in life. Yet tobacco companies intentionally increase the appeal of e-cigarettes to youth by using bright colors, flavors (such as bubble gum and root beer float), putting them on easily accessible shelves in stores, and discounting prices. These brightly colored and fruity-flavored electronic cigarettes are hooking our youth into a lifelong battle with nicotine addiction. As parents, it is important that we learn the risks and talk to our children about them. We don’t need to know everything. Being willing to talk with our children about the dangers is most important. Let’s keep the conversations going and spread the word in the community about this threat to our children’s health. ■
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YC MAGAZINE
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April 2017
23