E-CIGARETTES, THE NEW FAD FOR THE YOUTH, HAS TAKEN A DARK TURN FOR THIS GENERATION.
In the past, teenagers that wanted to look cooler and more grown up started smoking cigarettes. Cigarettes have never really gone completely out of fashion, and for many they remained a rite of passage into adulthood.
But as the risks of smoking became more and more apparent, a new form of smoking—vaping—began to take its place. Most people thought it was a safer, less toxic alternative to cigarettes.
But now it has been exposed as a potential killer.
At least 18 people have died in the U.S. this year, according to the Center for Disease Control and Protection (CDC) due to vaping-related injuries.
As of Sept 27, the CDC has reported 1,080 cases of e-cigarette or vaping-related injuries. Over half are younger than 25. Teenagers 18 or under makeup 16%.
Although most victims are young, those who died were all adults.
As numbers of injuries related to vaping continue to rise, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) issued a warning to the general public in early September about the dangers of e-cigarette usage. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration followed with a similar warning.
Most people suffering from vaping-related illnesses have been diagnosed with respiratory distress syndrome, a disease that is caused by fluid build-up in the lungs, preventing the victim from being able to breathe on their own.
Vaping pens, also called e-cigarettes, are portable, battery-powered devices that heat a liquid in a cartridge, creating an aerosol vapor which the user inhales. The liquid, flavored to make it more palatable, contains either nicotine or THC, a derivative of marijuana, among other chemicals and lasts for about 200 puffs.
Vaping pens, also called e-cigarettes, are portable, battery-powered devices that heat a liquid in a cartridge, creating an aerosol vapor which the user inhales. The liquid, flavored to make it more palatable, contains either nicotine or THC, a derivative of marijuana, among other chemicals and lasts for about 200 puffs.
Nicotine and THC use increases chances of a heart attack and stroke by raising blood pressure and adrenaline levels. They are, however, also highly addictive substances that make users prone to experience withdrawal symptoms if they stop using them.
Scientists, however, are still unsure of the complete composition of E-cigarettes, leaving the cause of vaping-related illnesses somewhat of a mystery.
All cases, however, have reported to use some kind of e-cigarette. Out of the 578 cases where doctors are unsure about what the victims were smoking, 78% of those vaped THC, while only 17% reported solely using nicotine, according to the CDC.
According to a study conducted by the Mayo Clinic, after examining the lungs of 17 patients who’ve fallen sick from vaping, researchers concluded that it may be a result of a mix of “toxic chemical fumes,” not oils as previously expected.
The presence of these chemicals make young users who use e-cigarettes more likely to transfer over to traditional cigarettes later on, according to a RAND Corporation Study.
Traditional cigarettes are known to cause health problems such as lung cancer, heart disease, and stroke. Smoking is the top cause of preventable death, responsible for over seven million deaths each year.
Nevertheless, usage of e-cigarettes is still on the rise since it is marketed as a “healthier” alternative to traditional cigarettes.
While traditional cigarettes are known to contain about 7,000 chemicals, many of which are toxic, like carbon monoxide and pesticides, the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine found conclusive evidence that switching to e-cigarettes reduce exposure to toxicants and carcinogens.
According to Michael Blaha, M.D., director of clinical research at the Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease, “there’s almost no doubt that they expose you to fewer toxic chemicals than traditional cigarettes.”
As a result, many e-cigarette users started using vaping as a way to stop smoking cigarettes.
Despite being marketed as a smoking cessation device, the FDA has not approved e-cigarettes as such.
E-cigarettes can still contain as much nicotine as a regular pack of cigarettes. Since nicotine can be highly addictive, this alternative to traditional smoking is still creating a new generation of nicotine addicts.
According to an FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and CDC National Youth survey, there has been a 78% increase in vaping among high school students and a 48% increase among middle school students since last year. Most of them are not aware they are even using nicotine.
A majority of vaping products are targeting the youth by incorporating kid-friendly flavors like bubblegum and cotton candy, appealing in taste and smell for young teenagers.
A study by Stanford University on the impact of tobacco product advertising found that Juul Labs, a major retailer of e-cigarettes, targeted its advertising toward young people. Some ads even resembled traditional tobacco ads.
Juul displayed themes like pleasure and relaxation, socialization and romance, style and identity along with colorful images and very young looking models advertising the product.
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The company, however, defended that their advertisements and products were targeted towards adults.
The CEO of Juul Labs, Kevin Burns stepped down from his position with K.C. Crosthwaite, a senior vice president at Altria, replacing Burns immediately. Altria, the major investor in Juul, is also the maker of Marlboro cigarettes.
This rising epidemic led the Trump Administration to take action to regulate the use of e-cigarettes and consider a potential ban on flavored e-cigarettes.
Following Trump’s proposal, Juul Labs issued a statement on their website on Sept. 25 stating that they would be discontinuing advertising in The United States. The company also stated they would accept the proposed ban on e-cigarettes in the U.S, until these devices are FDA-approved.
“People are overreacting by banning vapes but rules should be made for fake carts that help make sure those don’ t reach people,” said by a senior student.
Now retailers like Walmart and Sam’s Club have also taken action, vowing to end sales of vaping devices in the U.S. after their current stock is sold out.
Other countries are also following suit.
More than 20 countries have already regulated, or banned e-cigarettes. Juul Labs Inc.’s products disappeared from Chinese Marketplaces and days later India banned any further production of e-cigarettes.
However, resources for vaping will still be plentiful among the youth through black-markets and the many retail stores throughout America.
Not fully aware of the fatal effects of vaping, students continue to puff.
“I started doing vape when I was 15,” a senior student shares. “The type of vape that I smoke which I can die from is THC, which is basically marijuana. The controversy that is going around at the moment is that people are actually dying and thinking maybe there is a small possibility that my lifespan is shrinking by the moment. It does concern me because I haven’t lived a full life yet and I am hoping I can be old one day. So after thinking thoroughly about the situation and the effects of vaping I will maybe, just maybe consider quitting vape.”
A sophomore student shares, “I vape everyday and I vape because I love the head rush. The controversy around vaping is all negative stuff and I don’t recommend vaping with that being said, If it makes me a hypocrite but it’s my life and it’s my decision to choose to vape or not. Yes I understand the effects and yes I do plan on stopping because I do want to live a long life and vaping shortens your lifespan.”
The legal age to buy a vape pen is 18, but kids nowadays have access through all kinds of connections like black markets, and even friends. As this epidemic continues to grow, raising awareness among teenagers is important.