SPOTLIGHT ON VAPING

WHAT IS IT? Vaping is inhaling the aerosol created by a vaping device. These devices, also called “e-cigarettes” or electronic smoking devices, traditionally have been used for inhaling a liquid concentration of nicotine, flavorings, and various other chemicals. Now they are also used for consuming cannabis. In both cases, the vape device has a cartridge that carries liquid, and when that liquid is heated up and turned into vapor, the person using the device inhales the substance.

WHY DO YOUTH USE IT? Vape devices are small and odorless, making them easy to hide. They can sometimes look like a computer part and can be carried easily in a pocket or backpack without being noticed. This allows youth to get the desired feelings from nicotine or cannabis in a social or school environment without being easily detected.

WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL? We are still learning about the health effects of using vape devices. However we do know about the negative impacts of psychoactive ingredients in nicotine and cannabis, and we also know that when vaping, people are far less aware of how much of a substance they are using. For example, a person knows when they have consumed 1 cigarette. But once a person has consumed a single JUUL pod, they have in fact consumed 41 cigarette’s worth of nicotine, which is a big deal for such a highly addictive substance.

KNOW THE SIGNS: It can be hard to recognize the signs of vaping. Dry mouth, nose and throat are common side effects. The appearance of unusual devices with detachable parts are another clue.

ALSO KNOWN AS: Dab, pod, puff, juul, mod. PUFFS BARS, ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR E-CIGARETTES AMONG TEENS, MAY CONTAIN UP TO