What are E-Cigarettes?
E-cigarettes, often called “vapes,” are alternative tobacco products that produce an aerosol by heating a chemical liquid. Most have a battery, a heating element, and a place to hold a liquid. E-cigarettes can range in size from as small as a pen to as big as a smartphone, sometimes resembling USB flash drives, flashlights, gaming controls, or pens.
E-cigarettes contain more than 60 different chemicals, not just water vapor, and some of which are known to be toxic and cancer-causing, including:
- Nicotine, the chemical that makes smoking addictive.
- Flavorings such as diacetyl, a chemical linked to a serious lung disease, and
- Heavy metals such as nickel, tin, and lead.
How Vaping Affects the Body
In the United States, there are no legal limits to the amount of nicotine that can be added into these products. Studies have shown that nicotine can have harmful effects on the developing brain, including parts of the brain that control attention, learning, mood, and impulse control.
There is a common misconception that vaping helps with stress, anxiety and depression. However, vaping can increase the risk of panic attacks, depression, hot flashes, fainting, insomnia, slurred speech, and fatigue. Stress is a natural part of life and e-cigarette companies advertise their products as a stress reliever to make them more appealing.
Vaping can also be harmful to the lungs. “Popcorn Lung,” also known as bronchiolitis obliterans, can cause inflammation and lead to scarring of the airways, which makes it hard to breathe. E-cigarettes may also cause arterial stiffness, impede blood flow, raise blood pressure, and heart rate, all of which can lead to heart attacks and other heart related conditions.
Despite a 2020 ban by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on flavoring in e-cigarettes, disposable devices containing flavoring remain available and are now popular among youth. E-cigarettes and vaping popularity have increased among middle and high school students, impacting schools across the country. Students are more likely to start vaping if their friends vape, and many students do not realize that using these products has serious health consequences. Vaping may also affect students’ academic performance, mental health, physical well-being, and participation in extracurricular activities.
Parents and educators can collaborate to equip students with effective resources for vaping prevention and cessation. The tobacco industry invests about one million dollars per hour in youth-targeted marketing, with e-cigarette ads appearing on social media, billboards, and gas stations. Their strategies include offering discounts on social media, using themes that appeal to teens, positioning products as stress relievers, and promoting attractive flavors.
How to Talk to Your Children about Vaping
Research shows that when teachers talk about the health consequences of vaping to students, and students have access to vaping education, students may be less likely to vape. When talking to your students about vaping, start by researching the latest facts so you can present a calm, factual perspective. Adopt an empathetic approach by putting yourself in their shoes and encourage a two-way dialogue by asking open-ended questions instead of using scare tactics or lectures. Relate the issue to their interests by explaining how vaping can negatively affect their lives and follow up with ongoing support, such as regular check-ins and brainstorming healthy ways to manage stress and peer pressure, in a safe, open environment.
When discussing vaping with your child, choose a natural moment to introduce the topic, like when it appears in a TV show, rather than scheduling a formal talk. Begin the conversation early, listen without judgment, and ask about what they hear or see at school. This method allows you to correct misconceptions and emphasize the safety concerns surrounding vaping without resorting to alarmist language (e.g. The vape will blow up and kill you).
It is never too late to quit vaping, for more resources text DITCHVAPE to 88709 or visit the RHA website for more information.
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