Vaping FAQs

is the vaping epidemic real

by Monique Schulist Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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There is a vaping epidemic in this country, especially among teens. Every day, over 3,500 youths start vaping. In 2018 alone, the number of high school students who vape nearly doubled. This is an emergency situation. Join the fight! The American Heart Association is a relentless force against vaping.

Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb recently declared that youth e-cigarette use has reached “nothing short of an epidemic proportion of growth” and cited new, unpublished federal data that show a 77 percent increase in e-cigarette use among high school students.

Full Answer

Is vaping a serious health epidemic?

Vaping and e-cigarettes have become an epidemic. This is a serious public health and women’s health problem because many adolescents and young people have started vaping recently, and vaping is now associated with deaths and of severe lung injuries.

What are the bad effects of vaping?

What are the side effects of vaping with a burnt coil?

  • The most common side effects of vaping with a burnt coil is heavy coughing and an awful flavor coming out of the device.
  • If the coil is in really bad shape, it could cause choking and even vomiting.
  • Some coils also produce harmful particles as part of a chemical reaction when they burn. ...

How dangerous is vaping?

Medical Dangers of Vaping

  • Chemical Composition of the Liquid Products. The pharmacologically active components of vaping products are not...
  • Problems with Manufacturing of E-Cigarettes. There is no real regulation of either nicotine-containing electronic...
  • Toxicity of Nicotine and THC. It bears noting that when vaping is successful and delivers concentrated nicotine or...

Why vaping is bad for health?

Vaping can increase your exposure to chemicals that could harm your health (e.g. cause lung damage). Vaping could also expose you to nicotine, which is addictive. There are also concerns about the appeal of vaping products among youth and their potential to promote tobacco use. If you are a smoker, vaping is a less harmful option than smoking.

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Is vaping an epidemic?

We must take aggressive steps to protect our children from these highly potent products that risk exposing a new generation of young people to nicotine. The bad news is that e-cigarette use has become an epidemic among our nation's young people.

How many confirmed vaping deaths?

As of January 2022, the state of California has reported at least 40 cases on their update page, that were diagnosed after February 2020....2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreakFirst outbreak2019First reportedApril 2019Confirmed cases2,711Deaths614 more rows

Why do kids start vaping?

Young people start smoking or vaping for a variety of reasons; peer pressure, the belief that it relieves stress or looks cool, to lose or control weight, easy access, and role models or family members who use tobacco.

Is vaping worse than smoking?

1: Vaping is less harmful than smoking, but it's still not safe. E-cigarettes heat nicotine (extracted from tobacco), flavorings and other chemicals to create an aerosol that you inhale. Regular tobacco cigarettes contain 7,000 chemicals, many of which are toxic.

How do lungs heal from vaping?

However, there are certain lifestyle behaviors you can practice to try and accelerate the rate at which your lungs heal.Drink Lots Of Water. ... Eat Healthy Foods. ... Exercise Regularly. ... Cough. ... Clean Your Living Space. ... Practice Deep Breathing. ... Try Steam Therapy.

Are there any benefits to vaping?

The health benefits of being smoke-free include improved lung and heart function, and even better senses of smell and taste. 2. No noxious odors: One of the biggest advantages of vaping is that you and your clothes, house and car won't smell of smoke anymore.

What is a good punishment for vaping?

Most kids use vape pens because they cannot be easily recognized as e-cigarettes. Common punishments include community service, one-week suspension for first or second offenses, and even expulsion for repeated behavior.

Does vaping help with anxiety?

Stress and anxiety can trigger vape cravings, and make it harder for you to quit for good. You may be tempted to reach for your vape when you have these feelings, but vaping is not an effective way to cope. There are healthy and effective ways to deal with stress and anxiety.

How can you tell if your house is vaping?

“The biggest thing to look for is paraphernalia, like chargers, cartridges, cartridge packs, e-juice bottles, etc.” he said of items that are left out inadvertently. Parents may smell odors if a child is vaping in the bathroom or bedroom, and they may spot symptoms if their child vapes a synthetic drug, he added.

How many cigarettes is 200 puffs?

13-30 cigarettesAt 200 puffs, this is 14.4-32.8 mg of nicotine per pod with equivalence to 13-30 cigarettes.

How many puffs of a vape is equal to a cigarette?

10 puffsTypically, manufacturers advise that 10 puffs on your vape are about the same as 10 puffs on your cigarette. They further speculate that 10 puffs are all you take on one cigarette. Of course, this varies based on how big your puffs are, how strong your vape device is, and how much nicotine you are using.

Should I vape to quit smoking?

Nicotine vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking. It's also one of the most effective tools for quitting smoking. Vaping is not recommended for non-smokers and young people because it is not completely harmless.

Can vaping cause sudden death?

Although initially advertised as safe, studies have shown that vaping can have systemic effects on multiple organ systems including the heart and the lungs. Vaping may reduce repolarization reserve directly in the heart thereby providing a possible mechanism for vaping-induced sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).

What are 5 risks of vaping?

Vaping has been linked to lung injury.Rapid onset of coughing.Breathing difficulties.Weight loss.Nausea and vomiting.Diarrhea.

When was the first vaping death?

The first death from a vaping-related illness was reported Aug. 23 in Illinois. At that time, federal and state officials were investigating almost 200 cases of the baffling sickness in 22 states, according to the CDC.

Who declared e-cigarette use an epidemic among teens?

This week, Food and Drug Administration commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb declared e-cigarette use an epidemic among teens.

How long does it take for e-cigarettes to be approved by the FDA?

“The AAP rejects FDA’s decision to allow five leading e-cigarette manufacturers to submit plans in 60 days for how they will address youth use of their products.

Why are teens drawn to Juul?

Teens are especially drawn to Juul because the device, which resembles a computer flash drive, is easily concealed. Unlike most other vaping devices that stream clouds of scented vapor, Juul emits short puffs that quickly dissipate.

Can the FDA regulate e-cigarettes?

FDA has the ability today to do what tobacco companies can’t and won’t do: take effective steps to reduce and eliminate youth use of e-cigarettes,” the group said. “The Academy urges the agency to use its existing authority to immediately regulate all e-cigarettes.

Is nicotine addictive?

Some of the devices deliver a hefty load of nicotine, which decades of research has shown is highly addictive. It also can affect a developing brain in harmful ways.

Do teens smoke e-cigarettes?

Studies have shown that teens who try-e-cigarettes are far more likely to then go on to smoking old-fashioned combustible cigarettes. Hawkins saw it first-hand in a patient who lost her Juul device and became frantic in her need for a nicotine fix. “She was smoking two packs (of cigarettes) a day,” Hawkins said.

When did the FDA start regulating e-cigarettes?

It is important to note FDA’s initial efforts to regulate e-cigarettes began more than a decade ago. Between 2008 and 2010, FDA attempted to regulate e-cigarettes as unapproved drug/device combination products. FDA’s action was challenged and ultimately, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled that while FDA could choose to regulate e-cigarettes and other products “made or derived from tobacco” under its new tobacco authorities, it could not regulate these products under FDA’s drug and device authority unless they were marketed for therapeutic purposes. 1

Why did the FDA suspend inspections?

Suspending inspections was necessary to protect the health and safety of FDA’s staff and contractors (both adults and youth) who participate in the inspections. However, FDA’s monitoring and surveillance of websites, publications, and social media continued without interruption during that time.

How many inspections has the FDA done?

Since 2010, FDA has conducted more than 900 inspections of manufacturing establishments, some of which manufacture ENDS products (including e-liquids). Since the Deeming rule took effect on August 8, 2016, FDA has conducted more than 2,500 vape shop inspections.

How many warning letters did the FDA issue in 2021?

As of May 31, 2021, FDA had issued more than 120 warning letters to firms selling or distributing unauthorized ENDS and that did not submit premarket applications by the September 9 deadline. Collectively these companies have listed a combined total of over 1,280,000 products with FDA.

Why is the FDA investing in research?

FDA is investing in regulatory science research to learn more about how ENDS products are being used and their health impacts. Research findings help inform the Agency’s regulatory decision-making.

How many youth use e-cigarettes in 2020?

While we are seeing some progress in youth prevalence rates, the fact that there are still 3.6 million youth e-cigarettes users in 2020 is deeply concerning and underscores the critical need for FDA to address youth use of e-cigarettes and other ENDS.

Is nicotine an addictive substance?

Nicotine is an addictive chemical,” and. Prohibition of vending machine sales, unless in a facility that never admits youth. Following publication of the final deeming rule, FDA announced an enforcement policy with staggered timeframes.

How can physicians help with vaping?

The other way physicians can help address vaping in adolescents is by participating in advocacy at a local, state or national level. Currently in the state of Missouri, e-cigarettes are not included in the definition of “Tobacco Products” and thus are not subject to the same restrictions as combustible cigarettes. The sale of e-cigarettes to those under 18 years of age is prohibited, just as with tobacco. But the only regulation in place for e-cigarette packaging is that the liquid must be in child-resistant containers. The American Academy of Pediatrics is currently advocating for Missouri to include e-cigarettes in smoke-free laws and to increase the minimum age to purchase electronic cigarettes to 21 years.16Organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Physicians have both released position papers on vaping and offer further ways to join the fight. It is time for physicians to ask their adolescent patients about vaping and to provide education to the child and parents on the dangers of vaping. Physicians have the responsibility to be advocates for their patients working with medical organizations, state and local governments to address the adolescent vaping epidemic.

What is an electronic cigarette?

Electronic cigarettes are battery-operated devices that use an electric pulse to heat and aerosolize a flavored liquid that typically contains nicotine. They were first introduced to the U.S. in 2007, and they were advertised by the tobacco companies as an adjunct method to help patients quit smoking. This claim never had evidence to support it, as studies comparing the use of electronic cigarettes, placebos, and nicotine patches demonstrated no significant differences in abstinence rates.3But because e-cigarettes were seen as a treatment option, they were not subjected to the same regulations as combustible cigarettes. It wasn’t until 2016 that the Congress passed the Child Nicotine Poisoning Prevention Act, giving the FDA the authority to regulate e-cigarette packaging.1

What is the advertising for e-cigarettes?

Advertising for e-cigarettes has been heavily aimed at adolescents. Everything from the billboards to the packaging to the product itself has been aimed at teens. Ads on social media were widely distributed. From 2014 to 2016, advertising for vaping exploded and one study found that 78% of middle and high school students had been exposed to at least one advertisement.1Pods come in fun packaging and the different pods are flavored to be attractive to adolescents, with everything from mint to gummi bear to frosted sugar cookie. This is especially concerning because studies have shown that flavor is one of the most important factors adolescents consider in trying e-cigarettes.4The devices to aerosolize the pods are designed to look like anything from USBs to pens to inhalers. They can be personalized much like a cell phone case and backpacks have special pockets for the mod devices.

Do e-cigarettes increase the chance of smoking?

There has also been evidence that suggests e-cigarette use increases an individual’s chance of using combustible cigarettes . Adolescents who use e-cigarettes are 3.6 times more likely to report using combustible cigarettes later in life.9Teens have also been shown to be more susceptible to addiction. We know that nicotine addiction often originates in adolescence with studies showing that close to 90% of adult daily smokers started before the age of 18.10Thus, e-cigarettes are effectively helping to create a new generation addicted to nicotine.

Is e-cigarette use increasing?

Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use has recently risen to the forefront of medical discussions across the country. A significant increase in e-cigarette use by adolescents has been observed over the last decade. This article discusses the targeting of adolescents by e-cigarette companies. It looks at how teenagers are uniquely affected by nicotine and at risk for progressing to using combustible cigarettes and marijuana. Lastly, it discusses the role of physicians in combating the spread of e-cigarettes.

Can vaping be used to inhale cannabinoids?

Many vaping devices can also be used to inhale cannabinoids. One study demonstrated that teens who use nicotine liquid in e-cigarettes were 3.6 to 4 times more likely to use marijuana in the next two years.1Another study demonstrated that 1 in 10 seniors in high school vape cannabis.6This should be extremely distressing to physicians and medical providers because it is known that marijuana is extremely harmful to the development of the adolescent brain and studies have actually shown changes in brain structure. As a result, deficits in attention, learning, and memory associated with cannabis use in adolescents has been reported.11One study demonstrated that high schoolers who use marijuana were four times more likely to have multiple sexual partners when compared to students who only use tobacco or alcohol.12A sizable portion of adolescents who use marijuana report symptoms of paranoia, anxiety and hallucinations.13. Adverse effects from marijuana use, including cannabis hyperemesis syndrome have become common among pediatric patients.14

2. Vaping is not the same as nicotine addiction

Neither Dr Gottlieb or Dr Adams defines the term ‘nicotine addiction’. In real life, addiction terminology is highly contested. For example, some see addiction as a brain disease, while others reject the brain disease model as far too reductionist.

3. There is more to tobacco addiction than nicotine dependence

Nicotine is the primary psychoactive substance in tobacco smoke or e-cigarette aerosol. But the dependence-forming characteristic of nicotine is strengthened by interactions with other substances present in cigarette smoke, for example, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).

5. Most adolescent vapers are not regular or daily users

E-cigarette frequency of use matters. There are at least two different vaping behaviours in adolescents and the difference really matters:

6. Frequent vapers are likely to also be smokers and this may be positive for public health

The original version of this post said we didn’t have the full breakdown of vaping frequency by tobacco use history. This is crucial to understanding the ‘anatomy’ of the so-called youth vaping epidemic. Now the data is available it confirms the picture we expected.

7. Not all vaping is with nicotine

Most of the youth e-cigarette use is probably not nicotine-based… again the main National Youth Tobacco Use Survey doesn’t actually even ask if the vaping is nicotine-based, yet still counts it as “tobacco use”.

8. Marijuana use may be inflating the vaping numbers

Despite the moral panic about vaping in the United States, the current use of marijuana was almost one in five 19.8% in 2017 among high school students. In 2018 e-cigarette use was 20.8%. It is quite possible that some of the increase in vaping arises from adolescents vaping cannabinoids instead of smoking.

10. Vaping should be a low-priority risk behaviour among adolescents

The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance system provides some insight into the risks that young people take.

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Introduction

  • Good morning, Chairman Krishnamoorthi, Ranking Member Cloud, and Members of the Subcommittee. Thank you for the opportunity to be here today to discuss the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA or the Agency) efforts to address youth use of electronic nicotine delivery systems, or ENDS, which include e-cigarettes. I am Janet Woodcock, Acting FDA Comm...
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Background

  • Let me start with some information on our tobacco regulatory authorities and our recent regulatory efforts regarding ENDS and e-cigarettes. Tobacco use is the single largest preventable cause of disease and death in the United States. Each year, more than 480,000 people in the United States die prematurely from diseases caused by cigarette smoking and exposure to toba…
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Regulatory Requirements For Ends Products

  • When the Deeming rule took effect in August 2016, many of the regulatory and legal requirements that had been in place for manufacturers of cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, cigarette tobacco, and roll-your-own tobacco since 2009, as well as several new requirements specific to deemed products, became applicable to manufacturers of e-cigarettes and other ENDS products. These i…
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Data on Youth Use of E-Cigarettes

  • FDA collaborates with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to administer the National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) to middle and high school students each year. The survey provides important data that allow us to understand current youth tobacco product use in a larger historical context. NYTS data from 2018 and 2019 showed disturbing increases in the use of e-c…
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FDA’s Actions to Address Youth Use of Ends Products

  • Protecting our nation’s youth from the dangers of tobacco products is among the Agency’s most important responsibilities, and we are taking aggressive steps to make sure tobacco products are not being marketed or sold to kids. Our work to protect youth from tobacco products is comprehensive and includes compliance and enforcement, premarket review, public education, …
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Conclusion

  • Thank you again for the opportunity to testify about FDA’s comprehensive efforts to regulate ENDS, including our actions to prevent youth access to, and use of, these products. The efforts described here are just a part of the important work FDA and the Administration are undertaking to protect children and youth from the harms of tobacco products. We still have much to accom…
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