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E-Cigarettes Julia D’Elia E-cigarettes are an alternative to smoking combustible cigarettes, but it is important to recognize the danger and threat these products pose to adolescents. When analyzing e-cigarettes concerning adolescence, it is crucial to look at how these devices impact adolescents' health. E-cigarettes contain many harmful substances such as nicotine which is a highly addictive substance that can negatively impact brain development for adolescents and those in their mid to early twenties. Before understanding the impacts of e-cigarettes one ought to recognize and understand the devices themselves. Note that e-cigarettes are electronic devices that come in many different forms; most are battery-operated and have a heating element that heats the liquids to make an aerosol which is then inhaled. E-cigarettes are called many things but many young people including adolescents refer to them as vapes or vape pens. E-cigarettes do have flavoured pods, they can also be used for marijuana or other drugs. E-cigarettes come in a variety of flavours which makes them appealing to adolescents who do not want to smoke actual cigarettes. This is dangerous as e-cigarettes seem to be marketed towards adolescents as they are discrete, and many are used in school washrooms. A popular brand of e-cigarettes is JUUL which not only offers different flavours but also different skins to customize the look of the device. JUUL is also popular amongst students as it uses nicotine salts which gives the user a high intake of nicotine. Not all JUUL e-cigarettes contain nicotine but recognize that approximately two-thirds of people who use JUUL are between the ages of 15 and 24. Note that e-cigarettes cause harm to the parts of the brain that manage one’s impulses, learning, attention, and mood. All of these aspects are already changing for adolescents as their brain develops, and the introduction of e-cigarettes only makes this development more difficult. Adolescents who then try to quit using e-cigarettes have a difficult time as they go through withdrawal, which in turn harms their mental health. These withdrawal symptoms include being irritable, depression, anxiety, problems sleeping and concentrating on tasks, as well as craving nicotine. When adolescents use e-cigarettes to combat or cope with their issues, it creates a vicious cycle where they now depend on it. Their withdrawal symptoms will improve over time but the long-term effects of the use of e-cigarettes are still not completely known. Understanding the term e-cigarettes is important to understand the experiences of young people as some use it to cope with their struggles with depression, stress, or anxiety. Others may turn to e-cigarettes as a way to fit in at school, and to be cool. E-cigarettes are popular amongst young people, and it is important to bring awareness to this as they may not know the potential health risks e-cigarettes present. Many believe that e-cigarettes are better than combustible cigarettes, however, both are very dangerous not only to their development but their mental health and wellbeing. Knowing what e-cigarettes are is important because if adolescents are using them, adults can provide them with alternate resources to help them cope with whatever they are dealing with. References
