Vaping FAQs

is there really a vaping epidemic among teens

by Prof. Geovany Johns Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Summary: Vaping has risen to epidemic proportions amongst US teens. This poses a clear and present danger to teens' health with adverse effects ranging from acute lung injury to long-term addiction.

Full Answer

Why vaping is dangerous for teens?

Vaping increases the risk of teens developing an addiction to nicotine. Vaping exposes children and teens to harmful metals and toxic chemicals found in e-cigarettes. A mysterious, vaping-related illness is on the rise: e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI).

What is the real risk behind teen vaping?

The teen years are critical for brain development, which continues into young adulthood. Young people who use nicotine products in any form, including e-cigarettes, are uniquely at risk for long-lasting effects.

What are the effects of vaping on teenagers?

  • Nicotine dependence, which can lead to disruptions in brain development and chemistry
  • Increase in shortness of breath, coughing, and fevers
  • Acid reflux
  • Higher likelihood of contracting lipoid pneumonia, which occurs when fatty substances are inhaled into the lungs.

Is teen vaping a public health crisis?

Vaping among preteens and teens has reached a crisis point, according to a 2019 survey, and it threatens to undo years of public health efforts that had led to a decline in nicotine use. Parents should be concerned because: Vaping increases the risk of teens developing an addiction to nicotine.

What happens if the FDA delays regulation?

Why are teens drawn to Juul?

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

Where is Jonathan Law High School?

Do teens smoke e-cigarettes?

Who is Kirsten Hawkins?

Can the FDA regulate e-cigarettes?

See 4 more

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How many teens suffer from vaping?

In 2021, more than a quarter (27.6%) of high school e-cigarette users and 8.3% of current middle school e-cigarette users reported vaping daily, according to the 2021 National Youth Tobacco Survey.

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 common is vaping in youth?

2022 Findings on Youth E-Cigarette Use In 2022, about 1 in 10 or more than 2.5 million U.S. middle and high school students currently used e-cigarettes (past 30-day). 14.1% (2.14 million) of high school students and 3.3% (380,000) of middle school students reported current e-cigarette use.

What age group is vaping the most?

Teens and young adults. Gallup says that 20% of people age 18 to 29 vape, compared to 9% of people age 30 to 49, 7% of people age 50 to 64, and less than 0.5% of people older than 65. And, according to the Truth Initiative, 15- to 17-year-olds are 16 times more likely to vape than 25- to 34-year-olds.

How can teens stop vaping epidemic?

You might want to talk to a health care provider who can suggest effective nicotine cessation programs that help teens kick the habit.Vaping has become an epidemic. ... Ask questions. ... Be patient. ... Help them remove temptation. ... Encourage them to have a plan. ... Point them toward more help.

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.

What are the benefits of vape?

Benefits of vaping Vaping can help some people quit smoking. Vaping is usually cheaper than smoking. Vaping is not harmless, but it is much less harmful than smoking. Vaping is less harmful to those around you than smoking, as there's no current evidence that second-hand vapour is dangerous to others.

What percentage of Vapes are Gen Z?

E-cigarette use by percentage was highest in Millennials (21%) and those in Generation Z (18%) and lowest in Boomers (5%) and members of the Silent generation (1%).

Why has vaping become so popular?

Experts say part of the reason for the surge in use in such a short time is the evolution of the devices themselves. "We used to say that cigarettes are the most effective way of consuming nicotine, but e-cigarettes have replaced them," said Dr.

Are more teens smoking or vaping?

Researchers report that 21 percent of high school and middle school students in the United States vape e-cigarettes. That compares with 8 percent of teens who smoke regular cigarettes. Experts express concerns that students who vape are also more likely to start using tobacco.

What are the signs of vaping addiction?

There are also several physical signs of addiction.Dry Mouth. Propylene glycol, a common ingredient found in e-juice, can cause dry mouth. ... Dizziness. Researchers monitored 33 smokers over 21 days. ... Coughing. For some, vaping is a gateway to smoking. ... Skin Problems. ... Itchiness. ... Dry Eyes. ... Nosebleeds. ... Nicotine Overdose.More items...•

How many high school students are vaping?

About 2.5 million middle school and high school students reported that they had vaped in the past 30 days in 2022, according to new data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. That was 14.1% of high school students and 3.3% of those in middle school.

What percentage of people vape?

Key findings. In 2018, 14.9% of adults had ever used an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette), and 3.2% were current e-cigarette users. The prevalence of adults who had ever used an e-cigarette and were current users was highest among men, non-Hispanic white adults, and those aged 18–24.

How many people vape in the world?

The usage of electronic cigarettes has risen rapidly since their introduction to the market in 2002. The global number of adult e-cigarettes users rose from about 7 million in 2011 to 68 million 2021 and 82 million in 2021.

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.

What does vaping do to your brain?

The majority of vape liquids contain nicotine. In addition to being highly addictive, nicotine alters the neurotransmitters in the brain. It has been found to slow brain development in teens and affect memory, decision-making, concentration, self-control, and mood.

An Epidemic Continues: Youth Vaping in America - 06/23/2021 | FDA

1. Sottera, Inc. v. Food and Drug Administration, 627 F.3d 891 (D.C. Cir. 2010).; 2. The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia recently issued an order vacating the health warning ...

Teen Vaping Is a Public Health Crisis: What You Need to Know

Vaping among preteens and teens has reached a crisis point, according to a 2019 survey, and it threatens to undo years of public health efforts that had led to a decline in nicotine use.. Parents should be concerned because: Vaping increases the risk of teens developing an addiction to nicotine.

Why Vaping Is an "Epidemic" and Why It Will Be Tough for the ... - Inverse

Vaping has become so prevalent that it’s easy to forget that electronic cigarettes were only introduced in the United States in 2006.Twelve years later, the Food and Drug Administration appears ...

How many 12th graders are vaping?

About 37% of 12th graders reported vaping in 2018, compared with 28% in 2017. Vaping of each substance that was asked about increased. This includes nicotine, flavored liquids, marijuana, and hash oil.

What is the purpose of e-cigarettes?

In vaping, a battery powered device called an e-cigarette heats a liquid into a vapor that can be inhaled. The vapor may contain nicotine (the addictive drug in tobacco), flavoring, and other chemicals. E-cigarettes can also be used with marijuana, hash oil, or other substances.

Is vaping increasing among teens?

Vaping Rises Among Teens. A new survey found an alarming rise in the number of American teens who tried vaping last year. The study suggests that vaping may be driving an increase in nicotine use for teens. In vaping, a battery powered device called an e-cigarette heats a liquid into a vapor that can be inhaled.

Can you use e-cigarettes with marijuana?

E-cigarettes can also be used with marijuana, hash oil, or other substances. Vaping may pose serious and avoidable health risks. Exposure to nicotine during youth can lead to addiction and cause long-term harm to brain development.

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.

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

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.

What is the FDA's role in tobacco?

In 2009, Congress passed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (Tobacco Control Act), which amended the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) to authorize FDA to oversee the manufacture, marketing, distribution, and sale of tobacco products and protect the public from the harmful effects of tobacco product use.

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.

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.

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.

How does nicotine affect the brain?

Adolescent brains are still developing, and nicotine exposure has been linked with cognitive deficits and impairment in memory and executive function. Electronic cigarettes have been connected with increased impulsivity, with one animal study demonstrating that exposure to e-cigarette vapor during times of rapid brain growth (like during adolescence) can cause hyperactivity and impulsive behavior changes.4Another study looking specifically at the teen population found increased risks of physical fighting, attempted suicide, and alcohol/marijuana use when comparing non-users to teens who smoked or vaped.8

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

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 are the three questions that a medical student should ask about their social history?

Every medical student is taught the three basic questions to ask for social history. “Do you drink any alcohol? Do you do any drugs? Do you smoke cigarettes?” While these are three very important questions to help us address potential health hazards with patients, they fail to identify some of the most significant factors in the lives of adolescent patients. Specifically, vaping in adolescents poses a grave risk to patients’ health and is a topic that physicians have to confront.

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

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.

Why do teens vape?

The important question is which teens are vaping frequently. If it’s predominantly teens who smoke, vaping is almost certainly having a positive effect for high school and middle school students. If lots of teens who’ve never smoked are picking up vaping, then it could be the case that vaping is genuinely causing a problem. The CDC’s official communications tend to paint it this way on the basis of past-month vaping or even less recent experimentation, but what does the data really say?

Is vaping an epidemic?

Vaping is often painted as an epidemic of addiction and compulsive behavior, but the evidence shows that it’s mainly an epidemic of experimentation — apart from in the group it will actually benefit: regular smokers.

What happens if the FDA delays regulation?

If FDA continues to delay meaningful regulation, a generation of young people will become addicted to these dangerous products, which are being marketed to them in appealing, child-friendly flavors. ”. Thompson said he is doing what he can to educate kids, teachers and parents about the dangers of vaping.

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.

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.

Where is Jonathan Law High School?

Something was a little fishy at Jonathan Law High School in Milford, Connecticut.

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.

Who is Kirsten Hawkins?

Dr. Kirsten Hawkins, a pediatrician at Georgetown University Medical Center, says she is shocked at how quickly it is happening. “It’s rampant among our high school and middle-school-age population,” Hawkins said. Many of her patients are already addicted to nicotine, she said.

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.

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Introduction

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…
See more on fda.gov

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…
See more on fda.gov

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 disturbin...
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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, …
See more on fda.gov

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…
See more on fda.gov

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