Vaping FAQs

why is vaping so popular in the teenage community

by Prof. Reece Romaguera Sr. Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
image

There are several reasons:

  • Teens see friends and family members use them.
  • Companies design packaging to enhance the appeal of vaping for teens. ...
  • Young people believe that vaping products are safer than other forms of nicotine consumption, such as cigarettes. ...
  • Vaping is easier to hide from parents than smoking. ...
  • Vaping products are cheaper and easier to acquire than traditional tobacco products.

“These results suggest that vaping is leading youth into nicotine use and nicotine addiction, not away from it.” “Teens are clearly attracted to the marketable technology and flavorings seen in vaping devices,” explains Dr. Nora D. Volkow, director of NIH's National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Full Answer

Why teens shouldn't vape?

The Top Three Reasons Teens Should Stop Vaping

  • Lung Illness. Hundreds of teens have been hospitalized due to vaping related lung illnesses. The Chicago Tribune covered...
  • Bad Devices. With the rising popularity of vaping, many counterfeited devices have entered the market. Vaping black...
  • Death. The Center for Disease Control reported vaping related deaths have been...

Why has vaping became so popular with teenagers?

Why has vaping become so popular with young people specifically and how harmful is it compared to cigarettes? Vaping has become popular with kids because it’s less detectable. You can easily vape flavors that do not leave a tobacco odor. You can put a vape straight into your pockets or even throw it without worrying about setting things on fire.

What effects does vaping have on teenagers?

What Are the Other Risks of E-cigarettes for Kids, Teens, and Young Adults?

  • Scientists are still learning about the long-term health effects of e-cigarettes.
  • Some of the ingredients in e-cigarette aerosol could also be harmful to the lungs in the long-term. ...
  • Defective e-cigarette batteries have caused some fires and explosions, a few of which have resulted in serious injuries.

More items...

What excites teenage most about vaping?

  • Being curious about vaping (56 percent)
  • Friend or family member vapes (24 percent)
  • They are drawn to the flavored vape liquids, with mango and mint most popular (22 percent)
  • Believing that vaping is less harmful than using tobacco in other forms, such as cigarettes (17 percent)

More items...

image

Why do teens engage in vaping?

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 are the main reasons why people choose to vape?

There are a number of reasons why people choose to vape. Regardless of the reason, we can safely say that it is a healthier alternative to tobacco smoking. The benefits include cost savings, the flexibility to wean off nicotine and better health outcomes.

When did vaping become popular?

E-cigarettes entered the U.S. marketplace around 2007, and since 2014, they have been the most commonly used tobacco product among U.S. youth.

What percentage of teenagers vape?

2022 Findings on Youth E-Cigarette Use 14.1% (2.14 million) of high school students and 3.3% (380,000) of middle school students reported current e-cigarette use.

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.

Why do people start smoking?

Why do people start smoking? Most people who smoke started smoking when they were teenagers. Those who have friends and/or parents who smoke are more likely to start smoking than those who don't. Some teenagers say that they “just wanted to try it,” or they thought it was “cool” to smoke.

Does vaping make you feel good?

In the short-term, vaping nicotine may feel good by stimulating production of the “feel good” chemical in the brain called dopamine which can create feelings of pleasure and relaxation. Vaping nicotine also creates social opportunities to connect with other people and provides a distraction from stressful situations.

Does vaping help with stress?

But in reality, vaping nicotine can add to your stress and can also amplify feelings of depression and anxiety. In fact, according to Truth Initiative survey data, 93% of vapers reported that vaping negatively affected their lives because it made them feel more stressed, depressed, or anxious.

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.

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.

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.

How many teenagers tried vaping in 2018?

The number of teenagers who tried vaping in 2018 increased from 27% to 37%.

What percentage of people smoke vape?

The problem is that vaping products are gaining more popularity among teenagers rather than adults. An estimated 20 percent of adults in the United States smoke, but only 3 percent prefer electronic cigarettes. But the vast majority of smoking schoolchildren prefer vaping.

Why are electronic cigarettes so popular?

Five reasons for popularity among young people: 1) It is fashionable. The e-cigarette looks stylish. 2) Vaping is cheaper than smoking.

How many high schoolers smoke electronic cigarettes?

According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 20 percent of American high school students are adherents of electronic cigarettes, which is about three million teenagers – and this is not counting their junior high school friends.

Why is e-cigarettes dangerous for adolescents?

For adolescents, this threat is especially serious because their addiction develops more quickly than in adults. It should be noted that the ban on the sale of e-cig to adolescents did not prevent manufacturers from increasing the attractiveness of their product for this category of the population.

Do electronic cigarettes have to be advertised on social media?

Of concern is the fact that beautifully packaged electronic cigarettes are actively advertised on social networks – studies show that such strategies achieve their goal, causing interest among children. Based on this, flavored e-cigarettes are the target of the new FDA rules announced last month.

Is vaping safe for teens?

Vaping really can be a “safer” option for adult smokers, but for young people, it is far from being harmless. It must be remembered that most electronic cigarettes, especially the most popular brands, still contain nicotine, which is highly addictive. For adolescents, this threat is especially serious because their addiction develops more quickly than in adults. It should be noted that the ban on the sale of e-cig to adolescents did not prevent manufacturers from increasing the attractiveness of their product for this category of the population. Of concern is the fact that beautifully packaged electronic cigarettes are actively advertised on social networks – studies show that such strategies achieve their goal, causing interest among children. Based on this, flavored e-cigarettes are the target of the new FDA rules announced last month. These products emit sweet, child-friendly odors, such as blue raspberries or cotton candy. They evoke associations rather with a children’s fruit drink, although, in fact, they contain a substance that causes strong addiction. FDA’s actions are quite reasonable – as recent studies have shown, aroma plays a significant role in teenage vaping.

Why is vaping so popular?

Because these electronic devices are easily accessible and convenient to use, the amount of vape users – along with the risk factors associated with vaping – is on the rise, especially among teens and young adults. Studies are still finding new data on the pros and cons of vaping, and we’re starting to see the transition to vaping raising questionable concerns.

When did vaping start?

The vaping trend wasn’t really a huge ordeal until the late 2000s when the world started seeing refinements of the very first e-cigarette, a small electronic device designed to mock the sensation of cigarette smoking. Thanks to the original idea in 1963 by Herbert A. Gilbert being later redesigned and modernized by Chinese pharmacist Hon Lik in 2003, a new and more convenient way of getting a nicotine fix hit the market.

What is a Juul?

One of the first visible increases of this portable puff fad was the introduction of Juul, a groundbreaking refinement of the traditional e-cigarette that was sleekly shaped like a USB flash drive. Juul offered a ton of attractive features that beat smoking cigarettes; the device was small, easily rechargeable, didn’t smell like smoke, offered a range of flavors and packed a punch when it came to delivering nicotine.

Is Juul popular among teens?

Although companies at the forefront of this new era of vaping said they had no intentions of attracting underage customers, Juul became nationally renowned, including among teens. According to Reuters, company insiders were aware as early as 2015 of the device’s popularity among teens. “Employees started fielding calls from teenagers asking where they could buy more Juuls, along with the cartridge-like disposable ‘pods’ that contain the liquid nicotine.”

When will the age to buy tobacco be raised?

The age of legally purchasing tobacco is to be raised from 18 to 21 in the United States. The new law will take effect in September 2020 if signed by President Donald Trump. It would also include e-cigarette purchases in addition to conventional tobacco products. The House of Representatives approved…

Is vaping a healthy alternative to smoking cigarettes?

E-cigarettes were first introduced as a “healthy” alternative to cigarette smoking, but now we see teen vaping everywhere we look. From TikTok videos of faces clouded in billows of smoke to viral videos of young people performing vape tricks, teen vaping is immensely popular, even among those who have never smoked a cigarette. In fact, it’s even raised the question of whether or not teen vaping could actually lead more teens to begin smoking cigarettes.

How does vaping help with addiction?

The point written before this one already started explaining how vaping helps people overcome smoking addiction. To further explain, you need to be aware of how vaping works, since it’s different from classic smoking. You inhale it much slower and longer, time-wise. Sometimes you may feel the desire for one more smoke, especially in the transition times from smoking, but this is just until you develop a routine with a new device. One other difference is that vaping does not require smoking the whole thing. The ability to take a smoke or two when the time allows is especially handy for the teenagers since hiding from the adults is not required.

What is the name of the device that can satisfy nicotine cravings?

However, this didn’t last long, until the tobacco industry invented a way, or rather a device, that can satisfy your nicotine hunger and still be acceptable for non-smokers and the environment. The style is called vaping and the product is an e-cigarette.

Is vaping a sport?

You can even find a manual on how to learn certain tricks. So, you can say that it is also turning into a sport . The more tricks you know, the cooler you are among your peers.

Does vaping make you smoke less?

So, vaping becomes just a habit, not an addiction, which automatically makes it cheaper. You can vapor, but you won’t face a crisis if you don’t.

Can teens afford cigarettes?

We already mentioned that cigarettes, especially if they are stylish, come with a price not all teenagers can afford. The monthly pocket money is simply not enough to cover a smoking habit. On top of it all, there’s always someone in the gang who likes to smoke but doesn’t buy. Sharing cigarettes has decreased with vaping. It is not likely to ask someone to borrow a smoke. And the liquid filling itself last way longer than a regular pack of cigarettes.

Is vaping allowed in public?

Besides containing less nicotine, vaping is still allowed in some public places. And the thing most important to the teenagers is they leave no stinky trace, or evidence someone has been smoking. This allows them to enjoy some vaping before bedtime while chilling in their room.

How to tell if a teen is vaping?

What Parents Can Do About Teen Vaping 1 Watch for warning signs. Because e-cigarettes do not have an odor, it’s harder to tell when teens are using them. However, there are other signs to watch for, including bloodshot eyes, increased thirst, nosebleeds, and cough. 2 Ask open-ended questions. Avoid yes/no questions when talking with teens about vaping. Ask them what they’ve heard about vaping and what their peers think about it. Approach the conversation with caring and curiosity, not judgment. If a teen admits to vaping, react with compassion. 3 Let them know about the dangers. Make sure that teens understand the potential long-term consequences of vaping. 4 Set a good example. If parents don’t want their teens to vape or smoke, they shouldn’t do so either. Teens will have a hard time believing that vaping is dangerous if they see adults doing it. 5 Get them the help they need. If a teen wants to stop vaping, make sure they receive access to professional help for breaking the habit and dealing with the physical and emotional symptoms of withdrawal.

How much has vaping increased in high school?

According to the most recent Monitoring the Future study, use of vaping nicotine has nearly doubled among high school seniors, increasing from 11 percent in 2017 to 20.9 percent in 2018. Vaping has also significantly increased among eighth and 10th graders.

What Is Vaping?

Vaping refers to the act of inhaling and exhaling the aerosol, or vapor, created by a vaping device. A vaping device includes a mouthpiece, a battery, a heating component, and a cartridge that contains the e-liquid or e-juice. The e-liquid is a combination of nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals. Vaping devices can also be used to vaporize THC, the psychoactive chemical in marijuana, by replacing e-liquids with cannabis-infused oils.

What are the chemicals in vape juice?

Along with nicotine, vaping liquids contain additives such as propylene glycol and glycerol. These toxic chemicals have been linked to cancer, respiratory disease, and heart disease. Scientists have also found that diacetyl, a chemical used to flavor some vape juice, may cause a condition called “popcorn lung,” the scarring and obstruction of the lungs’ smallest airways. In addition, a study found that some common chemicals used to flavor vape juice could damage endothelial cells. These are the cells that line blood vessels and lymph vessels.

What is the purpose of a vape battery?

The battery in a vaping device powers the heating component, which heats up the e-liquid , also known as vape juice . As a result, the device produces water vapor. Users inhale this vapor into their lungs.

What can parents do about vaping?

What Parents Can Do About Teen Vaping. Parents can take steps to help prevent their kids from vaping health risks. In particular, communication between parents and teens is key in supporting good choices and positive coping mechanisms. Here are some ways to protect teens from the dangers of vaping.

How many deaths from vaping?

Most recently, a vaping-related health crisis has resulted in hundreds of respiratory illnesses across the United States and at least six deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

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 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

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

How does vaping affect teens?

Discussion points may include: 1 Vaping is addictive: Nicotine creates an addiction that hooks you, which makes you dependent on the substance. 2 Vaping is toxic: Talk about the types of toxic substances that are found in e-cigarettes. 3 Vaping affects the brain: Teens may not realize how nicotine may permanently affect a developing brain. 4 Your story: If you use nicotine products, talk about how you wish you never started or your struggle to stop.

Where Can Teens Get Help To Stop Vaping?

Quitting nicotine by yourself is difficult. Because it’s an addiction, it involves not only getting over the physical withdrawal symptoms but also changing behavior.

How Can You Talk To Your Teen About Vaping?

Talk to your adolescent about the dangers of vaping. Start by engaging your child in a conversation, not lecturing. Try to get a feel for what's going on at your child's school or in their social circle. Answer their questions and troubleshoot social obstacles they may face in saying no to vaping.

Why is it so hard to quit smoking?

Because nicotine is highly addictive, it's hard for people to quit once they start using it. Withdrawal symptoms include: Intense cravings. Anxiety and irritability.

What is an e-cigarette?

E-cigarettes – also called e-cigs, Juuls and vape pens – are battery-powered devices that heat liquid concoctions to create an inhalable vapor. They're becoming so common, it's likely your teen or their friends have tried them. In the last year alone, 78 percent more high school students started using e-cigarettes.

What is the substance in e-cigarettes?

E-cigarettes are loaded with just as much, or sometimes much more, addiction-forming nicotine as well as other toxic substances.

How many middle schoolers use e-cigarettes?

One in every 20 middle school students is already using e-cigarettes. So, having a discussion with your child before middle school is ideal. If you have older teens, it's not too late – talk to them about the dangers of vaping and how to avoid getting hooked.

Why do students use e-cigarettes?

The report found that, among students who used e-cigarettes in 2016, the most common reasons were: Because a friend or family member used them (39 percent) The availability of flavors, such as mint, candy, fruit or chocolate (31 percent) The belief that e-cigarettes are less harmful than other forms of tobacco, such as cigarettes (17.1 percent)

How can we prevent e-cigarette use?

In the meantime, the surgeon general recommends continued efforts to prevent and reduce e-cigarette use among youth and young adults, such as incorporating e-cigarettes into smoke-free indoor air policies, restricting access to e-cigarettes in retail environments and establishing specific package requirements like minimum pack sizes and health warnings.

What is the most common tobacco product used in high school?

E-cigarettes were the most common type of tobacco product used among U.S. middle and high school students in 2016. Why are youth using these products in the first place?

When will the FDA regulate e-cigarettes?

That’s why Truth Initiative® is pushing the FDA to reconsider its decision to delay fully regulating e-cigarettes until 2022 and calling on the administration to fully regulate e-cigarettes soon.

Can e-cigarettes be addictive?

The 2016 surgeon general's report on e-cigarette use among youth and young adults concluded that e-cigarettes have the potential to be addictive to some users, and that early nicotine addiction can harm brain development and alter nerve cell functioning. Other research shows that e-cigarette use increases the risk of ever using combustible tobacco ...

Is vaping a public health concern?

Youth vaping and using e-cigarettes is a public health concern. After a year of decline, vaping prevalence among teens increased in 2017. The rise in youth vaping and using e-cigarettes is a public health concern for several reasons.

Can consumers tell the difference between e-cigarettes?

A recent report on the public health consequence of e-cigarettes suggests that, due to the variety of e-cigarette devices available, consumers can’t determine differences between products and their relative harms.

image
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9