The Dangers Of Vaping And E-Cigarettes

This post was written by a CSUCI student. 

E-cigarettes, vape pens, and JUULs have become a popular trend among high school students because of their sleek designs, multiple flavors, and the fact that they are easy to hide from parents and teachers. Even adults are getting into this trend because these devices are often marketed as a safe alternative to smoking, even though there is no specific evidence that this is true. It is important to talk to your children about E-cigarettes and how to say no to these harmful products. Below is a list of facts every teen and parent should know about the dangers of E-cigarettes:

NICOTINE

When kids use Juuls or other E-cigarettes, they’re getting a large dose of nicotine. This disrupts their brain development, causing problems with learning, mood, and impulse control. Because of these disruptions, children who are already experiencing anxiety or depression can expect their symptoms to get worse.

ADDICTION

Nicotine is highly addictive, which makes it extremely difficult to quit E-Cigarettes. Vaping makes it much more likely that kids will smoke real cigarettes later in life.

DANGEROUS CHEMICALS

E-cigarettes are not only filled with large amounts of nicotine, but they contain many other dangerous chemicals, like formaldehyde, diacetyl, and benzene. Formaldehyde is found in glue and embalming fluid. Diacetyl is known to cause lung disease. Benzene is a carcinogen linked to leukemia. Some tests have also found metal particles in the E-cigarette vapor.

UNKNOWN LONG-TERM EFFECTS

The long-term effects of using E-cigarettes are unknown. Because there are no standards, we don’t know the ingredients in these products. Children should not be taking unnecessary risks with their health and should avoid a lifelong addiction to nicotine.

Resources:

Dangers of e-cigarettes, vaping and JUULs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JCAyb3lDTo