Quick Facts on the Risks of E-cigarettes for Kids, Teens, and Young Adults
- The use of e-cigarettes is unsafe for kids, teens, and young adults.
- Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine. Nicotine is highly addictive and can harm adolescent brain development, which continues into the early to mid-20s. 1
- E-cigarettes can contain other harmful substances besides nicotine.
- Young people who use e-cigarettes may be more likely to smoke cigarettes in the future.
Is vaping safe alternative to smoking near kids?
There is debate about whether vaping is safe around children as an alternative to cigarette smoke, but doctors are urging parents to reconsider embracing this misleading narrative.
Is it safe to vape weed around children?
You know the deal—the whiff of grape or cotton candy can be pleasant…but whether the vaping is coming from a nearby car or passerby, vaping can have serious health impacts on your kids. And if you vape around your children, you are putting them at serious risk for developing them. But it is a fact: it is not safe to do around children and babies.
Is it safe to vape indoors around my kids?
March 15, 2019 It's not safe to use electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), known as vaping or "Juuling," when you're pregnant or around your kids. Yet many parents vape without realizing that it's dangerous, according to two recent studies. Photo credit: iStock.com / amesy
Is it safe to have gun in house with children?
locked by either a password that your children don't know and won't guess, or a key that they cannot access. It is just as safe to have a gun in the house with children as it is to have a knife, an electric appliance, a dog or cat, a baseball bat or a heat source in the house with children.
How much nicotine is in Juul pods?
How do e-cigarettes produce aerosols?
How many countries have HTPs?
How does nicotine affect the brain?
What is a Juul?
What are the most popular flavors of e-cigarettes in 2020?
What are the flavors of e-cigarettes?
See 4 more
About this website
Is it OK for a 13 year old to vape?
A: The federal minimum age to purchase e-cigarette products is 18, but the laws vary by state – 49 states have set a minimum age that is older than 18. Unfortunately, the majority of underage vaping users are still getting the products from local gas stations or areas in their community that sell the products.
What happens if you vape as a minor?
For minors attempting to purchase or use vaping products, punishments include fines up to $50, education on health risks, and community services.
What age is it OK to vape at?
This law says that it's illegal to sell any tobacco products to someone under 18.
What can a 15 year old do when vaping?
5 Tips to Help Teens Quit VapingReason with your child. Have an honest discussion about the effects of vaping and how this type of addiction can lead to other substance abuse. ... Be present. ... Talk, don't punish. ... Appeal to their desire for independence. ... Equip them with support and resources.
Why do teenagers vape?
addiction, they like the “hit” they get from nicotine. appealing flavors (e.g. fruit, candy, dessert) devices are seen as trendy, or a status symbol. they consider vaping “harmless” and “safer than smoking” in order to quit or cut down on smoking.
What percentage of kids vape?
New figures from NHS Digital show a decrease in numbers of school children taking drugs and smoking cigarettes but a rise in vaping, with 9% of 11 to 15 year olds currently using e-cigarettes.
What punishment should I give my kid 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.
How old do u have to be to vape without nicotine?
Like any reputable vape vendor, at the Electronic Cigarette Company we do not sell any e-liquid including nicotine free vape juice to anyone under the age of 18.
Does vaping make you tired?
Tiredness after vaping is relatively common amongst first-time vapers. This is because vaping requires a little practice, and if you are new to it, you may take long and deep draws, depriving the body of oxygen which results in drowsiness. Holding vape in for too long will have a similar effect.
How can I tell if my son is vaping?
Signs a person is vapingA sweet scent in the air. ... Unfamiliar pens and USB drives. ... Drinking more water. ... Nosebleeds. ... Smoker's cough or mouth sores. ... New batteries and chargers. ... Discarded vaping pods and devices.
What does vaping feel like?
Vaping can give you a cloud of vapour and the feeling of exhaling. Vaping is a cleaner alternative to get the nicotine your body is craving. As discussed earlier the nicotine delivery is slightly slower than a regular cigarette but the satiated feeling lasts longer.
What to do if a 1 year old hits a vape?
If you suspect your child was exposed to liquid nicotine that was spilled on the skin or swallowed, call the Poison Center hotline: 800-222-1222 immediately.
What happens if you vape at 14?
Nicotine can harm the developing adolescent brain. The brain keeps developing until about age 25. Using nicotine in adolescence can harm the parts of the brain that control attention, learning, mood, and impulse control.
What punishment should I give my kid 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.
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 happens if you are caught vaping under 18 in Texas?
Violators may be fined up to $100. Exceptions apply if the minor is in possession or receipt of cigarette, e-cigarette, or tobacco products – while in the presence of an employer – in the performance of required job duties as an employee or in the course of supervised law enforcement activities.
Know the Risks: E-cigarettes & Young People | U.S. Surgeon General’s ...
Facts on e-cigarettes, addiction, and how nicotine can harm the developing brain from the U.S. Surgeon General. Risks of use along with resources and actions to help prevent harm to youth and young adults.
Vaping: What You Need to Know (for Teens) - Nemours KidsHealth
E-cigarettes (or “vape pens”) heat a liquid until it becomes a vapor, which is inhaled. The liquid (e-liquid or “vape juice”) can contain nicotine or marijuana distillate or oil. E-cigarettes can be refillable or pre-filled with cartridges containing the e-liquid. The pre-filled e-cigarettes ...
How do e-cigarettes and cigarettes differ?
Both e-cigarettes and cigarettes contain the drug nicotine, but they differ in how they get the drug to the lungs. “With vaping, the liquid nicotine is heated, aerosolized and inhaled—but with smoking, the tobacco is burned via combustion to form a smoke that is inhaled,” says Dr. Ambler.
What are the chemicals in vape smoke?
And the chemicals found in vape smoke are different from cigarettes. “E-cigarettes commonly contain propylene glycol and glycerol. These substances can decompose to form formaldehyde and acetaldehyde which are known carcinogens,” says Dr. Ambler.
What is vaping in medical terms?
What is vaping? “Vaping is a term used for the use of electronic cigarettes. These are battery operated devices that entered the US market in 2006,” says Cynthia Ambler, MD, pediatrician at Northwestern Medicine. They also go by a ton of different names, brands and designs.
How to protect your kids from vaping?
Plain and simple: if you are a parent that vapes, do not do it near your children. “The best way to protect your children is to never smoke or vape near them,” says Dr. Judy. “Never smoke indoors, in your car, or in places that children spend time.
What are the effects of smoking e-cigarettes?
E- cigarettes have also been reported to cause burns, explosive injuries and chemical injuries.
Is third hand aerosol bad for you?
Because nicotine on surfaces has been shown to be increased after e- cigarette use, thirdhand aerosol is another potentially harmful unintentional source of nicotine exposure for youth .”. And while you may love the flavors that vaping offers, they can also do major damage.
What happens if a child ingests nicotene?
If a child ingests nicotene, it is considered a poisoning.
What is vaping, and how does it work?
Vapes are battery-powered devices that contain coils used to heat up a liquid comprised of a mix of chemicals. Most vapes include nicotine, or marijuana as the active ingredient. Some devices are designed with the liquid contained in a tank that can be refilled.
Why are kids getting addicted to vapes?
As a result, vaping a single pod can result in nicotine addiction, and also symptoms of nicotine toxicity. Similarly, the concentration of THC in dab pens can result in addiction and in acute mental health impacts.
What is the appeal of e-cigarettes to kids?
Vape pods come in as many as 16,000 flavors designed to appeal to young people — from buttered popcorn and gummy bears to fruit loops and bubble gum. The flavor pods are marketed with engaging images to match the flavor. Some pods are designed to be identical to candies, juice boxes, or other child-friendly items.
Are the chemicals in vapes dangerous?
Yes. In addition to nicotine or marijuana, the flavors contain chemicals that pose many serious health dangers. While some of the chemicals used to make the flavors are approved by the FDA for food, they are dangerous when inhaled into the lungs.
Why has vaping suddenly been in the news?
Over the last few months, an alarming number of people have experienced symptoms of vaping associated pulmonary illness (VAPI). At Boston Children’s, we are seeing children who have used vapes and are experiencing serious respiratory symptoms, in some cases severe enough to require admission to the intensive care unit. Researchers at Boston Children’s have also been tracking the VAPI epidemic over time.
Do Casey and Levy agree?
Both Drs. Casey and Levy agree that prevention is always best. Find or make opportunities to talk with your children about drug use starting from a young age and provide honest information about the many serious risks that come with using vapes.
Is Massachusetts banned from vaping?
In the wake of hundreds of people around the country hospitalized with vaping associated pulmonary illness, and multiple deaths, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker recently imposed a four-month ban in the state on the sale of all e-cigarettes and vape products, including equipment used for vaping marijuana.
What percentage of dual users have policies banning vaping?
And only 21 percent of dual users had policies banning vaping inside the car. Winickoff hypothesized that parents may ...
Why are e-cigarettes safer in enclosed spaces?
Winickoff hypothesized that parents may view e-cigarettes as safer in enclosed spaces because, “they typically don’t have the foul odor that the cigarettes have and the aerosols become invisible after a few seconds.”
Is thirdhand exposure a long term health risk?
While we don’t yet know what the long-term health risks of thirdhand exposure may be, King pointed out that, “All thirdhand exposure was once secondhand exposure, so if you prevent use in indoor environments, it’s going to reduce those risks.”
Does nicotine affect the prefrontal cortex?
Trusted Source. nicotine use has on the still-developing prefrontal cortex. However, the research into adolescent impacts of nicotine exposure relates to teens who are actually smoking and vaping themselves, but it’s at least possible that exposure in other ways could have similar impacts.
Is it safe to smoke e-cigarettes?
Exposure to e-cigarette vapor isn’t as harmless as you may think. Getty Images. Parents who smoke cigarettes typically don’t light up in enclosed spaces like their cars or their homes with children or infants around. After all, we’ve known for years that secondhand smoke is bad for our health. Trusted Source.
Does smoking cause addiction?
The AAP has released data showing that early use of nicotine is related to increased addiction and a greater difficulty quitting.
Does nicotine cause depression?
He pointed out that previous studies of children and adolescents who use nicotine found that “nicotine exposure can lead to mood disorders, anxiety, and depression. Early exposure to nicotine may prime the brain to make it more susceptible to addiction in adolescence and early adulthood.”
How does vaping affect the brain?
Vaping puts nicotine into the body. Nicotine is highly addictive and can: slow brain development in kids and teens and affect memory, concentration, learning, self-control, attention, and mood. can lead to smoking cigarettes and other forms of tobacco use.
What is vaping in smoking?
What Is Vaping? Vaping is the inhaling of a vapor created by an electronic cigarette ( e-cigarette ) or other vaping device. E-cigarettes are battery-powered smoking devices. They have cartridges filled with a liquid that usually contains nicotine, flavorings, and chemicals.
Why do people use e-cigarettes?
Some people use e-cigarettes to vape marijuana, THC oil, and other dangerous chemicals. Besides irritating the lungs, these drugs also affect how someone thinks, acts, and feels.
Why do people quit vaping?
People who vape need the right motivation to quit. Wanting to be the best, healthiest version of themselves is an important reason to quit vaping. Here are some others:
How does nicotine addiction affect you?
Nicotine addiction leads to very strong cravings for nicotine. It can also lead to: headaches. feeling tired, cranky, angry, or depressed. trouble concentrating. trouble sleeping. hunger. restlessness. The signs of withdrawal are strongest in the first few days after stopping.
How to help my child quit vaping?
Suggest that your child look into local programs and websites that help people quit vaping. Your health care provider can help you and your child find the right support.
How long does it take for a drug to get better after stopping?
The signs of withdrawal are strongest in the first few days after stopping. They get better over the following days and weeks.
What are the chemicals that can be inhaled deep into the lungs?
Ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs. Flavoring like diacetyl, a chemical linked to a serious, irreversible lung disease called obliterative bronchiolitis. So-called volatile organic compounds, or gases emitted into the air that may have adverse health effects. Cancer-causing chemicals.
How does nicotine affect the brain?
Nicotine can impact the developing structure of the brain – altering reward pathways that navigate positive reinforcement in the brain – so that a child becomes more vulnerable, or is at increased risk, for becoming addicted to products that contain nicotine and other drugs in the future.
What are the causes of cancer?
Cancer-causing chemicals. Heavy metals, including nickel, tin and lead. The American Cancer Society notes that the cancer-causing substance formaldehyde, for one, may form "if e-liquid overheats or not enough liquid is reaching the heating element (known as a "dry-puff").". "People don't, I think, always realize that the secondhand smoke emissions ...
Why is quitting smoking the best thing?
Aside from a parent's own health, quitting is best because kids often follow the example of their parents. "Kids whose parents use cigarettes are up to four times more likely to use – to become smokers themselves – during the teenage years," he says.
Does e-cigarette smoke affect lung function?
Animal research shows that exposure to e-cigarette vapor leads to a decrease in the growth of tiny air sacs called alveoli in developing lungs. Based on such findings, while not definitively known since e-cigarettes haven't been on the market for long, exposure to nicotine early on in childhood may mean decreases in lung function, he says. What's more, where secondhand smoke can contribute to higher levels of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, secondhand vaping could possibly lead to problems with attention and hyperactivity as well, he says.
Can you get asthma from vaping?
And a study published in the journal Chest in January 2019 found that teens with asthma who were exposed to secondhand aerosol, without vaping themselves, were more likely to have an asthma attack.
Is second hand smoke bad for you?
Secondhand smoke from traditional cigarettes is known to cause tens of thousands of deaths annually in the U.S., and is implicated in some infant deaths, or sudden infant death syndrome. Likewise, chemicals in e-cigarette aerosol may also contribute to secondhand health problems. "People who are doing the vaping themselves, ...
What are vaping devices?
Vaping devices, also known as e-cigarettes, vape pens, and e-hookahs among other terms, come in many shapes and sizes. Some look like traditional cigarettes, cigars, or pipes. Others are shaped like every-day objects, such as pens or USB memory sticks.
What chemicals are in vaping?
Vaping exposes the lungs to a variety of chemicals. These may include the main active chemicals in tobacco (nicotine) or marijuana (THC), flavorants, and other ingredients that are added to vaping liquids. Plus, other chemicals can be produced during the vaporizing process.
How old do you have to be to vape?
New laws are aimed at curbing vaping among teens. People must now be 21 to buy any tobacco product, including vaping products. And companies can no longer produce and sell flavors that appeal to children like fruit and mint. If you’ve already started vaping or smoking cigarettes, it’s never too late to quit.
How does puffing work?
While they may look different, most vaping devices work in a similar way. Puffing activates a battery-powered heating device. This heats the liquid in a cartridge, turning it into vapors that are inhaled.
Is vaping more popular in high school?
Vaping is now more popular among teens than smoking traditional cigarettes. One in four high school seniors say they vaped nicotine in the past month. And studies have found that teens who vape nicotine may be more likely to go on to smoke traditional cigarettes.
Can nicotine be inhaled in a vaporizer?
Plus, other chemicals can be produced during the vaporizing process. “If the liquid has nicotine in it, then the user is inhaling nicotine along with the other ingredients in the liquid,” explains Dr. Thomas Eissenberg, an expert on tobacco research at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Is vaping harmful?
So how safe is vaping? Studies suggest nicotine vaping may be less harmful than traditional cigarettes when people who regularly smoke switch to them as a complete replacement. But nicotine vaping could still damage your health.
TEEN VAPING: A NATIONWIDE EPIDEMIC
In December of 2018, the Surgeon General Jerome Adams issued a rare advisory. He declared e-cigarette use among youth a national epidemic.
BUT DOES VAPING LEAD TO OTHER DRUGS?
A new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that teenagers who try e-cigarettes are more likely to begin smoking traditional cigarettes later on. Take this conclusion with a grain of salt: the authors note there’s just a strong association, not necessarily causation.
VAPING: THE HARD FACTS
As a parent or guardian, it’s important to understand the risks associated with vaping. Here are some quick facts.
WHAT CAN PARENTS DO?
As always, open and honest communication is key. It may feel easier to rely on scare tactics and misinformation, but for this topic, the truth is already convincing. Start a conversation with your teen with these tips as a guide:
SOURCES
Adolescent Exposure to Toxic Volatile Organic Chemicals From E-CigarettesU.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2018: Surgeon General releases advisory on E-cigarette epidemic among youth
How much nicotine is in Juul pods?
All JUUL e-cigarettes have a high level of nicotine. According to the manufacturer, a single JUUL pod contains as much nicotine as a pack of 20 regular cigarettes. 2
How do e-cigarettes produce aerosols?
E-cigarettes produce an aerosol by heating a liquid that usually contains nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals that help to make the aerosol. The liquid used in e-cigarettes often contains nicotine and flavorings. This liquid is sometimes called “e-juice,” “e-liquid,” “vape juice,” or “vape liquid.”. Users inhale e-cigarette aerosol ...
How many countries have HTPs?
They are different from e-cigarettes, which heat a liquid that can contain nicotine derived from tobacco. HTPs are available in at least 40 countries and several have been authorized for sale in the United States by the FDA.
How does nicotine affect the brain?
Using nicotine in adolescence can harm the parts of the brain that control attention, learning, mood, and impulse control. 1.
What is a Juul?
JUUL is a brand of e-cigarette that is shaped like a USB flash drive. Like other e-cigarettes, JUUL is a battery-powered device that heats a nicotine-containing liquid to produce an aerosol that is inhaled.
What are the most popular flavors of e-cigarettes in 2020?
5 Among high school students who currently used any type of flavored e-cigarettes in 2020, the most commonly used flavors are fruit (73.1%), mint (55.8%), menthol (37.0%), and candy, desserts , or other sweets (36.4%). 5.
What are the flavors of e-cigarettes?
E-cigarettes come in various flavors, including fruit, candy, mint, and menthol. A study from 2013-2014 showed that most youth who use e-cigarettes first start with a flavored variety, and flavors are the primary reason youth report using e-cigarettes. 6.
