Vaping Info

The U.S. Surgeon general declares vaping an epidemic among youth!

            Since 2014, vaping and e-cigarette devices are the most commonly used tobacco products among young people. According to the CDC, in 2018, approximately 3.6 million young people used an e-cigarette product. This equates to 1 in 5 high school students and 1 in 20 middle school students. Because of the great increase in use among youth, the U.S. Surgeon General has declared vaping as an epidemic and major public health issue.

(Information from www.cdc.gov)

The Dangers of E-Cigarettes and Vaping for Youth

            Most e-cigarette and vaping products contain nicotine. Even if the product claims to be “nicotine free”, it still may contain trace amounts of nicotine. Nicotine is a highly addictive chemical, especially for young people. Nicotine can harm brain development, impact learning and memory, and increase future risk of addiction to other drugs. Young people who use vaping devices are also likely to use cigarettes or other forms of tobacco in the future. Flavors such as fruit, candy, and mint make e-cigarette devices more appealing to young people. Vaping is not “just water vapor” as many young people may think. Vaping juices contain harmful chemicals including heavy metals such as lead, tin, and nickel, ultrafine particles, flavoring linked to lung disease, nicotine, volatile organic compounds, and other cancer-causing agents. 

            One of the most common vaping devices is the JUUL. The JUUL is an electronic vaping device that resembles a computer flash drive. This device comes in several flavors that are appealing to young people. Once JUUL pod of vaping juice contains the same amount of nicotine as an entire pack of 20 cigarettes. These devices pose serious dangers to young people who use them. For parents it is important to educate yourselves and talk to your children about vaping and the dangers it poses. For young people who vape, it is not too late to quit! Quitting vaping now will greatly increase your health and success in life. For more information and resources on how to quit, please visit www.cdc.gov/tobacco.

(Information from www.cdc.gov)