Whereas e-cigarette use in teenagers has gone down in recent times, teenagers are nonetheless vaping regardless of nationwide insurance policies aimed toward decreasing nicotine vaping amongst adolescents.
The most recent knowledge from 2024 exhibits the share of teenagers who reported they’d ever vaped nicotine commonly 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 without doubt one of the most incessantly abused substances in these grades.
What’s extra, the Journal of the American Medical Affiliation discovered that vaping in teenagers is linked to a better danger for beginning cigarette smoking and use, particularly in youths who’ve low risk-taking behaviors. Vaping could be a manner for some adults to quit smoking, however for teenagers, it’s a solution to begin.
Likelihood is excessive that teenagers right this moment have been uncovered to e-cigarettes, considered utilizing them, or have used them. So, what can mother and father do to cut back the probabilities that their teenagers will flip to vaping?
As a pharmacist within the Drug and Poison Data Heart, I counsel studying every thing you’ll be able to about e-cigarettes after which having an trustworthy dialog together with your teen in regards to the dangers. Under are some details to get you began.
8 Details About Nicotine, E-Cigarettes and E-Liquids
FACT #1: E-CIGARETTES CONTAIN HARMFUL CHEMICALS
Based on smokefree.gov, e-cigarettes often include nicotine. This chemical has been proven to hurt mind improvement not solely in youngsters, but additionally in younger adults into their early 20s.
E-cigarettes may also include different harmful substances, together with heavy metals like lead, cancer-causing chemical substances, and small particles that get inhaled deep into the lungs.
FACT #2: Nicotine is extremely addictive
Nicotine is without doubt one of the most addictive substances and is extremely troublesome to cease utilizing. Dependence is predicated on elements resembling age, household or peer affect, genetics, medical historical past and extra.
The teenager mind is extremely vulnerable to the adverse and addictive results of nicotine, and the long-term results of e-liquids will not be 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 may possibly have an effect on the mind in a adverse manner and trigger negative 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 youngster. Liquid nicotine can be absorbed by way of 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 by chance ingested, it may possibly 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 the US to these over 21 solely. This contains vapes.
Nevertheless, on-line and in-person shops could not at all times ask for identification, and on-line sellers of vaping gadgets could not examine a buyer’s age on the time of sale.
FACT #5: E-cigarettes are available in shiny colours and flavors
The brilliant colours, flavors and smells of e-liquids might be interesting to each teenagers and babies, making them appear innocent. If younger youngsters are within the residence, hold e-cigarettes out of their attain. Many containers will not be 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 right this moment.
FACT #6: Nicotine supply might be discreet
It’s onerous to inform when somebody is utilizing an e-cigarette, as a result of they gained’t odor like tobacco. Vapes can even 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 underneath the higher lip. Because the pouches dissolve, nicotine is launched from them into the bloodstream by way of the mouth. They’re obtainable in a wide range of flavors that will enchantment to youth. Like e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches can include excessive ranges of nicotine.
FACT #7: E-cigarettes are BEING USED TO VAPE THC
Many younger individuals additionally use vaping gadgets to eat hashish merchandise. In 2024, practically 17.6% of twelfth graders reported that they vaped marijuana prior to now 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 individuals have acquired an acute lung damage or died associated to the usage of e-cigarettes. Learn this weblog publish for extra details about vaping and its influence on teenagers’ lungs.
You probably have any issues about your youngster being uncovered to nicotine or every other dangerous substance, please name the Drug and Poison Data Heart at 1-800-222-1222. We will be taught extra about your youngster and the state of affairs, and stroll you thru what to do subsequent.
Concerning the creator: Sheila Goertemoeller, PharmD, D.ABAT
Sheila Goertemoeller, PharmD, DABAT, ICPS, is a pharmacist and medical toxicologist. She has greater than 20 years of expertise on the Drug and Poison Data Heart Hotline at Cincinnati Youngsters’s.