When e-cigarettes first hit the market a decade ago, they were touted as a safer alternative to traditional smoking. But with the recent rash of vaping-related deaths, it’s becoming increasingly clear that they still pose a significant health risk.
With vaping becoming more common among middle- and high-school-aged kids, it’s important to be informed, stay vigilant, and talk to your kids about the risks. Here’s what you need to know.
What Is Vaping?
Vaping uses an atomizer to heat nicotine or THC (the active ingredient in marijuana) into a water vapor. This vapor is inhaled, delivering the chemical to the recipient through the lungs. It gets its name from the cloud of vapor that is released during use, and has been marketed as a healthier alternative to smoking since the nicotine is not delivered through carcinogenic smoke.
How Does Vaping Work?
There are a lot of different types of vapes, but they consist of two primary components:
E-Cigarette: Also known as a “vape,” this is a battery-operated device that heats the nicotine cartridge to produce a vapor. They come in many different shapes and sizes.
Cartridge: The cartridge (also known as a pod) contains the e-juice. This is a combination of nicotine (or THC), flavoring, and other chemicals. This is what is turned into vapor and inhaled. Though the strength varies, one cartridge delivers the nicotine equivalent of one pack of cigarettes.
Why Is Vaping Harmful?
Though vaping contains far fewer chemicals than traditional tobacco cigarettes, they are not without risk. Six people have died and 450 more have been sickened due to vaping-related lung injury or illness – and not all of them were heavy users. But perhaps the most concerning aspect of the recent deaths and illnesses is the fact that doctors cannot pinpoint the exact reason for the lung injuries. While vaping is a common factor, it’s unclear exactly what about vaping is causing the illness – meaning there is no way to improve or ensure the safety of the products.
Vaping also delivers a powerful chemical (nicotine or THC) in a form that is much more pleasing to the user than traditional cigarettes since it is combined with synthetic flavors like mint, mango, and even bubble gum. This makes it easy to consume more of the drug than traditional cigarettes, and makes vaping more enticing to young people.
When kids’ brains are developing, they are especially susceptible to foreign substances. Nicotine use can slow brain development and affect your child’s:
- Concentration
- Mood
- Attention span
- Learning
- Self-control
And if your child says they use nicotine-free cartridges, don’t let that lull you into a false sense of security. They are still inhaling synthetic flavors and other chemicals into their lungs, which can be harmful and still lead to lung injury.
As far as the long-term health risks, the short answer is: We don’t know. Vaping is still relatively new, so the long-term side effects have yet to be determined.
What Do Vapes Look Like?
Vapes are small and sleek-looking, making them difficult to recognize amidst all the other gadgets and school supplies your child has stashed in their room.
The JUUL is currently the most popular brand with middle- and high-school-aged kids because it looks like a USB drive and emits less vapor than other models, making it more discreet.
Others look like long, thin pens.
Or random school supplies.
Some resemble lighters.
Or keychain laser pointers.
Still others are outright disguised as actual pens or even asthma inhalers.
Is Vaping Legal?
At present, Michigan has banned all electronic cigarettes. Aside from that, vaping nicotine is legal everywhere else. Vaping THC may be legal depending on the laws in your state. But no matter where you live, IT IS ILLEGAL TO SELL VAPING PRODUCTS TO MINORS.
The Bottom Line
Kids who would never have smoked are now trying “safe” e-cigarettes, getting a whole new generation hooked on nicotine. And since vaping doesn’t leave a tell-tale odor on their clothes, it’s harder than ever to tell if your kid is experimenting.
Talk to your kids. Make sure they understand the dangers of vaping, and that even light use has been linked to fatal outcomes. Don’t make any assumptions about things you find in their rooms, and if you see something you’re not sure about, ASK. Then ASK FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS. Be vigilant and be nosy. It’s the best way to keep your child safe.
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