Why exactly is vaping unhealthy for teens?
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
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We've been hearing a lot about vaping lately, especially because, as we previously noted, Colorado youth are vaping nicotine at twice the national average and at the highest rate of 37 states surveyed, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Some people say vaping is a "healthy" alternative to smoking, but the facts just don't support that, especially when it comes to youth use:
- Vape e-juice may contain nicotine, chemicals that cause cancer, and can lead to health problems including wheezing, coughing, sinus infections, nosebleeds, shortness of breath, and asthma.
- Nicotine has a negative effect on adolescent brain development, causing lasting cognitive and behavioral impairments, including effects on working memory and attention.
- Because the nicotine in vape juice is addictive, teens who get hooked and try to quit are likely to experience anxiety and depression during the quit and withdrawal process.
- Nicotine is not only addictive, it also sends pleasure signals to the adolescent brain, so teens who vape are more likely to get addicted to other substances. (Also see the National Institute on Drug Abuse, ref. #9.)
- Despite the claims, those big puffy vape clouds aren’t just water vapor. Studies show that the aerosol vapor from vape products can contain dangerous toxins, including heavy metals and chemicals known to cause cancer and other diseases.
- Vaping is a predictor of future cigarette smoking. A study of 12th-grade students who had never smoked a cigarette found that those who had reported recent vaping were more than four times more likely to report past-year smoking one year later.
- There are no standard regulations for vape manufacturers. Even with more than 450 different types of vape products sold, no universal standards for product design, ingredients, and safety features exist.
- Many vape companies are owned or partially owned by big tobacco companies, which have a history of prioritizing sales over safety.
It can be tough to tell if our kids are vaping - TobaccoFreeCO says, "Not only do manufacturers make discreet devices that resemble flash drives, highlighters and more, but they also do not have the same strong odor that is often a giveaway for parents and teachers. Vaping is so discreet, in fact, that students have been known to vape during class." We have to talk to them. It can be hard, but we're not alone.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has a suite of materials to help parents and askable adults understand the risks of vaping and prepare us to have informed conversations with our teens and pre-teens about it. I talked to a few of the teens in my life to see what they knew and thought about vaping, and found our conversation enlightening.
The materials are available on the new Tobacco Free Colorado website at TobaccoFreeCO.org/know-the-facts/, and include:
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has a suite of materials to help parents and askable adults understand the risks of vaping and prepare us to have informed conversations with our teens and pre-teens about it. I talked to a few of the teens in my life to see what they knew and thought about vaping, and found our conversation enlightening.
The materials are available on the new Tobacco Free Colorado website at TobaccoFreeCO.org/know-the-facts/, and include:
- Frequently Asked Questions for Parents and Adults Who Work with Youth
- Tip Sheet: Talking to Youth
- Fact Sheet: Myths vs. Facts
- Fact Sheet: Vaping 101
- "What should I do if I find out my child is vaping?"
- Results from the Healthy Kids Colorado Survey
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