As a parent, 

What do you know about e-cigarettes?

What do you know about vaping? 

Do you know that currently, there is an epidemic of e-cigarette use and vaping in children and youths in high school and middle school? 

This blog will be the first series discussing this topic because there is so much to discuss. 

INTRODUCTION

What are E-cigarettes or E-Cigs?

E-cigarettes (E-Cigs) or Electronic Cigarettes are devices that heat a liquid (E-liquid) to produce aerosols that the user inhales. When the user exhales these aerosols, bystanders are exposed.

E-liquid contains various substances, the most common of which is nicotine. They also contain marijuana, flavorings, other drugs, etc.

Unfortunately, most of these liquids are flavored to make them more appealing to kids and Teens! According to a recent study in 2023 by Birdsey J et al., 89.4% of youth used flavored E-cigs.

What is Vaping?

Vaping is the act of using E-Cigs.

E-Cigs come in various shapes and are masqueraded as everyday items: USB flash drives, Pens, Flashlights, Fidget Spinners, Gaming Controls, Smartwatches, asthma inhalers, Car Key Fob, cigars, pipes, cigarettes, etc.

NAMES OF E-CIGARETTES

Electronic cigarettes have various names, but they work the same way. Vape Pens, Vapes, Mods, E-hookahs, JUUL, Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS)

E-Cig use is increasing in popularity among high school and middle schoolers. In 2022, 16.5% of high schoolers and 4.5% of middle schoolers used E-cigs. 2

EFFECTS OF E-CIGARETTE USE

• E-Cig use is harmful to anyone: Kids, Teens, and Adults.
• It is not effective or safe to help smokers quit.
• Most E-cigs contain nicotine, which is addictive and can harm the growing brain. Brain development continues till 25 years of age. The parts of the brain most affected are the areas that control mood, learning, attention, and impulse control.
• Nicotine is a gateway drug, meaning it increases the risk of future addiction to other drugs.
• E-cigarette use is associated with depression and anxiety.
• Most E-cigs contain ACROLEIN, a herbicide used to kill weeds. Acrolein causes irreversible Lung damage, asthma, and lung cancer. The lung damage may be so severe that people affected need double lung transplant.
• They contain ANTIFREEZE (propylene glycol or ethylene Glycol), Diethylene Glycol, and Aldehydes like formaldehyde, which are toxic to the cardiovascular system.
• Defective e-cigs can explode and cause fires, resulting in injuries.
• Nicotine poisoning can occur when the e-liquid is swallowed or absorbed through the skin. Nicotine poisoning is also a risk for young children.

In summary, E-cigarette use is increasing among youths, and the American Lung Association and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have recognized it as an epidemic at the time of this writing. 

Companies are targeting youths with their adverts and formulations of these cigarettes, and we now know, without a doubt, that they are harmful to anyone using them directly and to anyone indirectly exposed to the exhaled aerosols. 

What can you and I do as parents or guardians of Kids and Teens to prevent this epidemic? Where can you learn more? Are there treatment options for people already addicted? If you have any other questions about this crucial topic you would like me to address, comment in the section below, and I will address them in the next blog.

I will address the above questions in my next blog.

1. Birdsey J, Cornelius M, Jamal A, et al. Tobacco Product Use Among U.S. Middle and High School Students — National Youth Tobacco Survey, 2023. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2023; 72(44);1173–1182.
2. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/tobacco/Pages/Facts-For-Parents-About-E-Cigarettes-Electronic-Nicotine-Delivery-Systems.aspx

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